>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[00:00:02]
WELCOME TO OUR 7:00 PM COMMISSION MEETING.I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
>> COMMISSIONER GELIN. COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
>> VICE MAYOR BOLTON, AND MAYOR GOMEZ.
>> AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER PLACKO TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISIONER PLACKO, I SEE THAT YOUR LIGHT IS LIT.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW OR AFTER THE VIRTUAL?
>> I THINK AFTER YOU. I'M I LIT [INAUDIBLE]
>> PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS WE'RE ALSO LEARNING OUR NEW VIDEO SOUND SYSTEM.
WE'RE IN-PROGRESS. IF WE CAN NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
[1. PROCEDURES FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS]
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE EXPLAIN PROCEDURES FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS.>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER ENTERED BACK IN MARCH 20-69, WHICH PROVIDED FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND VIRTUAL QUORUM HAS EXPIRED ON NOVEMBER THE FIRST.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH IS THAT THIS CONDITION IS NOW MEETING IN PUBLIC CHAMBERS PHYSICALLY WITH A QUORUM IN PLACE WHICH YOU HAVE THIS EVENING, AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE WORKING ON A HYBRID BASIS WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT OF ACCESS, NOT JUST TO BE PHYSICALLY IN THE ROOM LIMITED BY CDC GUIDELINES, BUT ALSO REGULATED BY THE FACT THAT THEY MAY ALSO DIAL IN, CALL IN, LOGIN AND OTHERWISE FIND ACCESS [NOISE] TO THE PUBLIC MEETING THROUGH THE VIRTUAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS CALLED CMT, COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY.
FURTHER ON THE AGENDA AT ITEM NUMBER 4A I'LL PRESENT TO THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION AN OPPORTUNITY AND AN OPTION FOR AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED, WHICH HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WHICH WILL SPECIFICALLY OPEN A DOOR FOR CONTINUING VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND VIRTUAL QUORUMS UNDER AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE, WHICH I'LL EXPLAIN ONCE WE GET TO THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE AGENDA.
BUT THIS EVENING, MY PRESENTATION ON THE ISSUE OF CMT TECHNOLOGY AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS IS VERY SHORT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED THE ITEM TO EXPIRE.
IT WAS NOT CONTINUED, AND FOR THAT PURPOSE THEN IT NEEDS TO BE PHYSICAL QUORUM IN THE ROOM TO TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO VOTE ON MATTERS [NOISE] UNDER THE STATUTES THAT GOVERN PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS SUCH AS THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER.
I'LL COME BACK TO YOU UNDER ITEM 4A WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, VICE MAYOR BOLTON AND COMMISSIONER GELIN ARE PRESENT.
[2.a. Proclamation - World Aids Day]
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY THE VICE MAYOR FOR WORLD AIDS DAY, AND I WILL APOLOGIZE AS I DO NOT HAVE IT ON MY COMPUTER AND I LEFT MY BOOK.MY APOLOGIES. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLINE.
THANK YOU. DUE TO THE LENGTHY AGENDA THAT WE HAVE TODAY, I WILL JUST SUMMARIZE THIS.
AS MENTIONED, REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR MARLON BOLTON, WHERE AS PEOPLE WORLDWIDE UNITE ON WORLD AIDS DAY, DECEMBER 1ST TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, HIV AND ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME, AIDS.
IN 2020, THE WORLD'S ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HOW HEALTH AND PANDEMICS AFFECT THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.
COVID-19 IS SHOWING ONCE AGAIN HOW HEALTH IS INTERLINKED WITH OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS REDUCING INEQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, GENDER EQUALITY, SOCIAL PROTECTION, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WITH THIS IN MIND, THIS YEAR'S THEME OF WORLD AIDS DAY IS GLOBAL SOLIDARITY, SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
WHILE WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN COMBATING HIV/AIDS OVER MORE THAN THREE DECADES, INFECTIONS UNFORTUNATELY PERSIST.
THANKFULLY DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANTIVIRAL THERAPY, HIV IS NOW CONSIDERED A MANAGEABLE CHRONIC CONDITION RATHER THAN A FATAL DIAGNOSIS.
NOW THEREFORE, I MICHELLE J. GOMEZ, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE DAY OF DECEMBER 1, 2020 AS WORLD AIDS DAY IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND URGE EVERYONE IN THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES.
[00:05:01]
REMEMBER THOSE WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIVES TO AIDS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COMPASSION TO THOSE LIVING WITH AIDS. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU LATER. I DO SEE THAT COMMISSIONER PLACKO WISHES TO MAKE A STATEMENT. [NOISE]
>> YES. I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL AS OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO BE COGNIZANT TONIGHT THAT WE DO HAVE RESONANCE HERE FROM WOODMONT WHO ARE LOOKING TO SPEAK.
IN THE LIEU OF THEIR COMING OUT IN OUR TIME, I WOULD ASK THAT OUR REPORTS BE MOVED TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
ANYTHING THAT IS NOT IMPERATIVE, BE MOVED TO THE END OF THE MEETING SO WE CAN GET TO WOODMONT.
WE DO HAVE A LENGTHILY AGENDA AS IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE FOR THEIR COURTESY TO OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON THAT NOTE, I'M GOING TO ASK THIS COMMISSION IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT THEIR REPORTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING. VICE MAYOR.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD PREFER IF THE CITY ATTORNEY GIVES HIS REPORT AT THIS TIME, AND THEN AFTER HE GIVES HIS REPORT, I WOULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD BE AMENABLE TO MOVING MY REPORT TO THE END OF THE MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COMMISSIONER GELIN, ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE YOUR REPORT TO THE END OF THE MEETING? [INAUDIBLE] COMMISSION VILLALOBOS, ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE YOUR REPORT TO THE END OF THE MEETING?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW COMMISSIONERS BOLTON'S SUGGESTION AT THE MOMENT.
[4. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
WE'RE AT CO2446 EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A VIRTUAL QUORUM.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TO PRESENT, ONE OF WHICH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY NOTED, BUT I'LL BRING IT UP DURING THE COURSE OF THE PRESENTATION.
BUT THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM 4A.
VERY QUICKLY, AS I MENTIONED DURING THE OPENING CONVERSATION OF THE COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-69 TO EXPIRE ON NOVEMBER THE FIRST, WHICH ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATED THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SUCH AS CITY COMMISSIONS, COUNTY COMMISSION, SPECIAL DISTRICTS, ESSENTIALLY TO MEET IN A VIRTUAL QUORUM, VIRTUAL MEETING CONTEXT.
THAT BEING SAID, THE CITY COMMISSION WENT BACK TO WORK AS YOU ARE NOW SITTING IN CDC REGULATED SEATS WITH REGARD TO SEPARATORS, ETC, AND AS LIMITED NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY PRESENT.
ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING ON THE PRINTED AGENDA IS ITEM 4A WHICH IS A PROPOSED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD DO ONE VERY SPECIFIC THING.
IF ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION THIS EVENING AS AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE, IT WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF TAMARAC TO RETURN TO A VIRTUAL MEETING, VIRTUAL QUORUM PREMISE BASED UPON THREE BASIC FUNCTIONS.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-52 WAS ENTERED BY THE GOVERNOR EARLY IN MARCH WHEN THE COVID PANDEMIC BECAME AN ISSUE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
IT IS A STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE ORDER GOVERNING THE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY.
IT COVERS EVERY CITY, EVERY COUNTY, EVERY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
CHAPTER 252, WHICH GOVERNS THE STATE LAW GOVERNING EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS AND ACTIVITIES STATEWIDE, IS A LAW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
CHAPTER 166, WHICH IS THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE POWERS ACT, ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT BASED UPON THEIR INDEPENDENT RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN THEIR CITIES.
IN THE ABSENCE OF 20-69 WHICH EXPIRED, IT IS OUR LEGAL OPINION THAT THE CITY COMMISSION HAS THE LEGAL ABILITY TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IF THE CONDITION IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE MATTER, AS AN OPTION, WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO RETURN TO A VIRTUAL MEETING, VIRTUAL QUORUM PREMISE, MUCH LIKE THINGS WERE BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER EXPIRED ON NOVEMBER THE FIRST.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ITEM TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE THAT I CAN.
WE'VE GIVEN YOU A LEGAL MEMORANDUM WHICH EXPLAINS THE PREMISE AND THE BACKUP, WHICH I JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU ON THE RECORD.
THIS ORDINANCE, IF ADOPTED, WOULD ONLY REQUIRE ONE READING.
BY THE WAY, IT IS TIED SPECIFICALLY AND LEGALLY TO 20-52, WHICH IS A GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH THEORETICALLY EXPIRES ON JANUARY THE THIRD.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS WILL EXTEND THAT ORDER WITH REGARD TO STATEWIDE EMERGENCY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LINCHPINS TO THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THE USE OF COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY TO ALLOW FOR VIRTUAL QUORUMS. YOU'RE CURRENTLY NOW IN A SITUATION WHICH IS A HYBRID BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING PHYSICALLY, SEAT DISTANT SEPARATED WITH SEPARATIONS.
THERE ARE LIMITED NUMBERS OF FOLKS PHYSICALLY IN THE AUDIENCE BASED UPON CDC GUIDELINES IN THEIR COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO YOU EMBRACE AND WHO HAVE A RIGHT OF ACCESS THROUGH THE VARIOUS MEANS OF THE EITHER DIALING IN, CALLING IN, OR LOGGING THROUGH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AS REQUIRED BY THE NOTICE.
IF THE WILL OF THE COMMISSIONERS NEED ME TO READ THE TITLE AND TO
[00:10:02]
CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.IF THE COMMISSION HAS AN INTEREST IN PURSUING THIS LEGAL OPTION, WHICH WE'RE OFFERING UP TO THE COMMISSION THIS EVENING, GIVEN THE MANY CHALLENGES OF THE DAY AS WELL AS THE ISSUES OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE NUMBERS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES, HEALTH AND SAFETY.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND I'M HAPPY TO READ THE TITLE TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER IT, IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
>> THANK YOU. A TEMPORARY ORDINANCE IS NOT LISTED BY NUMBER, BUT WILL LIST SAY TO IT'S BLANK FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RECORD, BUT IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER, THE CITY TAMARAC, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY COMMISSION TO ARRANGE FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS BY USE OF COMMUNICATION MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, AND FOR ATTENDANCE BY USE OF SUCH TECHNOLOGY BY ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS DURING A DECLARE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, RUNNING FOR SEPARABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
IT'S AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE ON THE FLOOR, BUT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
TO THAT EXTENT POSSIBLE, IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT THIS ITEM TONIGHT, IT WOULD REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE AS PRESCRIBED BY BOTH YOUR CHARTER AND BY THE STATE STATUTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL TAKE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING THAT OUR SYSTEM IS NOT ACTUALLY LINING OUR PEOPLE UP WITH THEIR AIMS. [INAUDIBLE] , DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO SAY?
>> OKAY. THEN I THINK YOUR LIGHT CAME ON NEXT. COMMISSIONER GELIN.
>> NO. NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS I'M WORRIED ABOUT.
>> CITY CLERK PLEASE FOLLOW UP.
>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY QUICKLY INTERRUPT JUST FOR A MOMENT.
ALTHOUGH IT'S AN EMERGENCY URGENCY THROUGH ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAS EITHER SIGNED IN, LOGGED IN, OR CALLED IN AND WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE ITEM BEFORE ADOPTION, [OVERLAPPING] UNDER STATE LAW, THEY HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO DO SO IF THE MAYOR WOULD PERMIT THAT OPPORTUNITY, AT LEAST FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU.
>> BE MY PLEASURE. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW OPEN.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ON FACEBOOK OR THE PHONE?
>> EXCELLENT. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION WHO HAVE GIVEN THE DISCRETION AS TO WHICH MEETINGS ARE TO BE VIRTUAL, WHICH ARE NOT, ABSENT AND OBJECTION BY THE MAYOR OR COMMISSION THAT WOULD BE FOR ALL MEETINGS IN THE CONTEXT THAT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS AND ADVISORY BOARDS OF THE CITY ON A BLANKET BASIS, AND THE MANAGER AND THE ATTORNEY WILL REPORT BACK TO YOU AS IF AND WHEN GOVERNOR DESANTIS EITHER EXTENDS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-52 OR NOT, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT FULL INFORMATION AS IF AND WHEN IT OCCURS.
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CITY CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> YES. THANK YOU, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER GELIN?
>> THE MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ONE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSION. THE SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN UPDATE NOT REQUIRING SPECIFIC ACTION BY THE COMMISSION, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS WITH REGARD TO THE CITY'S SALE OF THE VACANT LAND LOCATED AT ROCK ISLAND ROAD AND COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD.
WITH ME ON THIS DISCUSSION IS MICHAEL BURKE, SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC, WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE LITIGATION SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
THIS CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED RESOLUTION NUMBER R-201876 IN JUNE OF 2018, WHICH INCLUDED BOTH A MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND THE AFFECTED PARTIES, WHICH WAS PRESTIGE HOMES AND OTHERS.
THE APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME ALSO INCLUDED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, RELEASES OF RECORD AND A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONAL CONTRACT TO SELL THE PROPERTY TO AN ENTITY THEN DESIGNATED AS ROCK ISLAND STORAGE PARTNERS LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
I'M ADVISING THE COMMISSION THIS EVENING THAT AS WE PROCEED TOWARDS COMPLYING WITH THE ORDERS ENTERED BY THE COURT WHEN THE SETTLEMENT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COURT AS REQUIRED BY THE JOINT MOTIONS OF BOTH PRESTIGE HOMES AND THE CITY, THE TRANSACTION IS ABOUT TO CLOSE AND MAY CLOSE BY THE YEAR END, OR PERHAPS EARLY IN JANUARY, BUT WE PRESUME TO BE CLOSING THE TRANSACTION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
I HAVE MR. BURKE ON THE PHONE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM WITH REGARD TO THE PENDING LITIGATION, WHICH I THINK MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF YOU NEED TO HEAR THAT.
BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SETTLEMENT THAT THE COMMISSION ENTERED INTO, WHICH OCCURRED AGAIN BACK IN JUNE, AND THE AUTHORIZATION TO [NOISE] NOT JUST APPROVED THE SETTLEMENT, BUT TO ALSO SELL THE PROPERTY, I'M SIMPLY GIVING YOU THE UPDATE THIS EVENING THAT THE TRANSACTION IS ABOUT TO CLOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACT WHICH THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED, AND WHICH THE COURT IS RETAINING JURISDICTION TO DIRECT TO OCCUR BY THE COURT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. BURKE, I THINK IS ACTUALLY ON THE LINE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE THAT'S THE UPDATE ON THE TRANSACTION, WHICH AGAIN HOPEFULLY WILL CLOSE BY THE YEAR END.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MINOR ISSUES CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT'S THE UPDATE FOR THIS EVENING'S DISCUSSION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. SEEING NO QUESTIONS.
>> MR. BURKE ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
[00:15:01]
>> OKAY. YOU KNOW MIKE BURKE, WITH THE JOHNSON&SAM, A LAW FIRM, HE HAS BEEN ENGAGED AND WAS ENGAGED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LITIGATION WITH PRESTIGE, WHICH WAS SETTLED.
HE'S ALSO ENGAGED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WITH REGARD TO THE LITIGATION IS STILL CURRENTLY PENDING, IN WHICH THE CITY AND PRESTIGE HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE POTENTIAL BUYER TO COMPEL PERFORMANCE, WHICH IS TO COMPEL THE CLOSING ON THE TRANSACTION.
WE'RE IN THE PREMISE OF RESOLVING THE MATTER AND ABOUT TO CLOSE THE TRANSACTION CONSISTENT WITH THE LITIGATION AND JUST UPDATING THE COMMISSION ON THE TRANSACTION THIS EVENING.
>> THERE'S NO PHYSICAL ACTION, LEGAL ACTION REQUIRED OF THE COMMISSION.
WE WOULD, CERTAINLY IF ALL THE PIECES AND PARTS COME TOGETHER BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT, WE WILL ASK THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS UNDER THE CHARTER AND WE'LL CLOSE THE TRANSACTION.
MR. BURKE, ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD ADD TO THE RECORD FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION?
>> [NOISE] NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
>> OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I APPRECIATE THE INDULGENCE THIS EVENING.
I KNOW THAT THE AGENDA HAS OTHER PARTS TO IT.
I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AS YOU PROCEED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MY PARLIAMENT WILL BE UP ON THIS.
>> ACTUALLY. YEAH, SORRY. BUT YOU'RE COMING UP AS [INAUDIBLE].
SO WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AFTER THIS PART AND OUR IT SPECIALISTS WILL TAKE CARE OF FIXING IT UP.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE LONG BEEN AGAINST THE STORAGE FACILITY PROPOSED IN MY DISTRICT AS A RESULT OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
FOR THE SAME REASONS WHY THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
THEY FEEL LIKE THIS CITY IS NOT AMENABLE TO THEIR REQUEST.
IN THESE VERY SAME CHAMBERS, A COUPLE OF MY RESIDENTS CAME FROM CENTRAL PARK, SOME [INAUDIBLE] AND OTHER PARTS OF DISTRICT 1, EVEN DISTRICT 2, EVEN ALL THE DISTRICTS.
THEY SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE THE TALLEST THING IN DISTRICT 1, ON COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD, BILLOWING IN THE VIEWS OF THE RESIDENTS AND CENTRAL PARK AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
MY THOUGHTS TOWARD THE STORAGE FACILITY HAS NOT CHANGED, AND TONIGHT I WILL ADVOCATE FOR SOME RELIEF TO MY RESIDENTS THROUGH MY COLLEAGUES TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN AND NOT ALLOW THE CITY TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BE PENDING OVER THE HOLIDAYS.
WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WANT TO SHOW DUE DILIGENCE AND THEN MAKE A DECISION AFTERWARDS.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY THROUGH THE CHAIR.
IT IS NOT REQUIRED OF US TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION TONIGHT OR ANY ACTION TONIGHT, BUT COULD WE?
>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I CAN TO THE COMMISSIONER, TO THE VICE MAYOR PARDON ME, I COULD VICE MAYOR BOLTON, AND THE ANSWER IS THAT THAT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT THE COMMISSION AUTHORIZED AND THE RESOLUTION WHICH AUTHORIZES NOT JUST THE ENTRY INTO THE SETTLEMENT DOCUMENT, BUT ALSO INTO CLOSING THE TRANSACTION IS ESSENTIALLY A MATTER WHICH HAS BEEN LEGALLY CONCLUDED.
MR. BURKE, CAN QUALIFY THAT FURTHER IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WAS FILED WITH THE COURT AS REQUIRED BY THE SETTLEMENT DOCUMENT.
BUT THE ANSWER AS TO UNDO THAT TRANSACTION THIS EVENING, WOULD CREATE SIGNIFICANT LEGAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC AFTER THE MATTER HAS LEGALLY BEEN SETTLED AND RESOLVED IN THE COURTS.
>> ACTUALLY, NOT TO CUT YOU OFF [OVERLAPPING] CITY ATTORNEY, BUT WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS TO GO TO, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE A VERY QUICK ANSWER. [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN WE TAKE ACTION TONIGHT OR NOT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE ANSWER IS THAT, I BELIEVE THAT THE MATTER IS LEGALLY SETTLED AND DONE, AND THE ANSWER IS, TO DO SO WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE CURRENT ORDERS OF THE COURT AS WELL AS THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
>> SO WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION TONIGHT?
>> YEAH. THIS CASE HAS- [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M SORRY. MR. BURKE, I HAVE THE FLOOR, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, [OVERLAPPING] I DID NOT ASK YOU TO SPEAK THROUGH THE CHAIR.
>> I ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SPEAK AND THIS IS WHO I WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
YOU'RE A VERY FINE GENTLEMAN, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR YOU RIGHT NOW.
[00:20:03]
MR. CITY ATTORNEY, [LAUGHTER] I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.>> THE ANSWER IS NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN UNDO THE TRANSACTION THIS EVENING.
>> OKAY. LET'S TRY AGAIN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I ASKED, CAN WE TAKE ACTION TONIGHT, YES OR NO?
>> IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE ACTION, YES, YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TONIGHT.
>> YES. YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE ACTION TO UNDO THE ISSUE.
>> SO I CAN TAKE ACTION TONIGHT.
>> YOU CAN'T TAKE ACTION CONTRARY TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OR THE COURT ORDERS.
YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT ACTION YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE, I'D HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR ACTION IS TO THE EXTENT THAT I WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY.
THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT WHAT THIS CITY HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED BY THE SETTLEMENT THAT I DISCUSSED EARLIER.
>> THERE IS NO ACTION REQUIRED, BUT WE COULD TAKE WHATEVER ACTION WE WANT AS A COMMISSION, YES OR NO?
>> MR VICE MAYOR, IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE ACTION WITH REGARD TO AN ITEM WHICH HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE CITY AND HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND HAS BEEN ENTERED BY THE COURT, I WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION MORE SPECIFICALLY BY TELLING YOU THAT YOU'RE BOUND BY THAT WHICH HAS BEEN ENTERED BY THE COURT AS A SETTLEMENT WHICH DIRECTS THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY, AND I'M JUST SIMPLY ADVISING YOU THAT THIS CLOSING MAY OCCUR BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AS A MATTER OF COURTESY TO THE AMERICAN NATION.
>> MR ATTORNEY, WHY ISN'T THE ITEM PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA?
>> BECAUSE WE, IF I MAY MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS CLOSING NOW FOR THE PAST NUMBER OF WEEKS AND ITEMS HAVE MATURED TO THE POINT WHERE WE MAKE LAWS WITHIN THE NEXT 10 BUSINESS DAYS, IF CERTAIN TITLE ISSUES ARE RESOLVED.
>> WHAT WOULD THEN HAPPEN IF THE CITY ELECTED TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY?
>> YOU WOULD BE ACTING [OVERLAPPING].
>> SIR, YOU CANNOT SPEAK FROM THE AUDIENCE, I'LL DO THE MAYORS JOB.
MR. ATTORNEY, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> IF YOU CHOSE NOT TO SELL THE PROPERTY, YOU CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND THE ORDERS OF THE COURT, YOU'D BE IN VIOLATION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE COURT ORDER THAT DIRECTED THAT IT BE IMPLEMENTED FOR WHICH THERE WOULD BE A BREACH OF THAT RELATIONSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. WHY CAN'T THE CITY PAY FAIR MARKET VALUE TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY?
>> THE CITY IS THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE CONTEXT OF LITIGATION, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF SETTLING EXISTING LAWSUITS THAT OCCURRED OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS, THIS CITY COMMISSION ENTERED INTO A SETTLEMENT DOCUMENT WITH PRESTIGE HOMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION, AUTHORIZED NOT JUST THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL PENDING LITIGATION, BUT ALSO THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY UNDER A NEGOTIATED BASIS WITH A CONTRACT THAT WAS ATTACHED AND APPROVED BY THE COURT.
>> IF THE CITY RETAINS OWNERSHIP, COULDN'T IT BE DEVELOPED INTO A POCKET PARK? I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT ONE TIME IN LIEU OF A FIRE STATION AND THAT IT WAS INITIALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPER OF THE CENTRAL PARK RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, 13TH FLOOR, TO BUILD A POCKET PARK AT THIS LOCATION.
>> IS THAT A QUESTION MR. VICE MAYOR?
>> GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE EXISTING LEGAL ISSUES THAT I JUST DESCRIBED TO YOU, IT WOULD NOT BE LEGALLY POSSIBLE TO BUILD A POCKET PARK.
>> NOT SURE THAT THE CITY ADMINISTRATION HAS LOOKED AT ALL OF THE OPTIONS BEFORE IT RECOMMENDED IT'S SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WILL RESULT IN A STORAGE FACILITY ON A PROPERTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY TO BE USED FOR GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE, SO THIS CITY HAS A GOVERNMENTAL LAND USE ZONING DESIGNATION, IS THIS IT OR NO, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
WHAT IS THE DESIGNATION? WHAT IS IT OWNED FOR? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR MAXINE CALLOWAY. THROUGH THE CHAIR.
>> MS. GALLOWAY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RESPOND.
BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO RESPOND AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR A QUESTION AFTERWARDS, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> VICE MAYOR, THE CITY DOES HAVE A GOVERNMENT FACILITIES ZONING DESIGNATION, HOWEVER, THIS PROPERTY IS NOT ZONED TO THAT, IT IS ZONED NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS.
[00:25:01]
>> ACTUALLY, THIS IS PROBABLY MORE FROM MAXINE.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE ALL DISCUSSED AT LENGTH.
THEN WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS FACILITY [OVERLAPPING] WE ARE AT THIS POINT, WE WERE GIVEN AN UPDATE BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY ON WHAT IS THE STATUS OF A LAWSUIT.
MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED, THAT MIGHT BE THE STATUS OF A LAWSUIT, THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO BE PUTTING THIS INTO A SHADE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION, AS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LAWSUIT. CITY ATTORNEY?
>> MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU WILL, YOU'RE NOT IN THE SHADE AT THE MOMENT, YOU'RE IN PUBLIC.
>> WE ARE FOLLOWING THE ORDERS OF THE COURT, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THOSE THINGS.
WE FULFILL THOSE OBLIGATIONS, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT OPEN TITLE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT IN COMMON IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION AND TO THE EXTENT I FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE, AND THAT'S THE STATUS OF THE TRANSACTION.
THE TRANSACTIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK TO GET HERE HAS ALREADY LEGALLY OCCURRED, THERE ARE COURT ORDERS IN PLACE WHICH ESSENTIALLY AUTHORIZED THE SETTLEMENT AND AUTHORIZED THE TRANSACTION, IN FACT, DIRECTED THAT IT SHOULD OCCUR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES MUM.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO MAKE A MOTION IF MY COLLEAGUES DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.
>> I DO HAVE COMMISSIONER PLACKO SLIGHTLY.
>> THIS IS NOT AN ITEM THAT IS CURRENTLY ON OUR AGENDA, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AT HAND AND THE IMPORTANCE TO OUR VICE MAYOR.
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, COVERSHIP, AND WOODMONT IS ON THE AGENDA, CAN WE PLEASE MOVE THIS TO THE END AND ALLOW WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA BEING WOODMONT TO BE HEARD AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS AND SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS WE NEED TO ON THIS, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT [APPLAUSE]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMAN. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THAT OUR CHAMBERS HERE, WE ASK THAT WE CAN DO THIS, KEEP IT QUIET, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BOO, AGAIN, PLEASE DON'T, WE'LL TRY TO KEEP IT VERY QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AS I SAID, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE VICE MAYOR'S CONCERN ABOUT THIS AND I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WE NEED TO, BUT CAN WE PLEASE OFFER THE COURTESY TO THE WOODMONT RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE AND WOODMONT IS ON THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE COMMISSIONED FOR THE LOGOS.
>> IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.
MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS WOODMONT THING, WE WOULD GO BACK TO VICE MAYOR BOLTON'S QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THAT HE'S SEEKING.
>> WE COULD, YES. AT THE END IS WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED.
>> IF COMMISSIONER GALAN DOES NOT HAVE A QUESTION, IF I MAY WANT MAYOR.
>> I'M NOT HEARING YOU ALL EITHER.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION, IS THAT IT?
>> PER OUR ORDINANCE WE HAVE TO END MEETINGS AT 11:00 PM.
UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE FROM WOODMONT, THE CITY ATTORNEY GAVE HIS REPORT, AND THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO MY DISTRICT, I WILL WRAP UP WITH A MOTION WHEN DISCUSSION IS FINISHED.
AS FAR AS DISCUSSION GOES, I'M DONE WITH MY QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO MOTION.
THAT'S ALL I NEED. WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS ITEM BECAUSE I'M DONE, BUT I WANT TO FINISH WITH A MOTION.
>>YES. MY MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR, BRING YOUR MICROPHONE, JUST BRING IT OVER TO YOU CLOSER. THANK YOU.
>> A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR, YOU HAVE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
YOU HAVE A MOTION THAT YOU WISH TO MAKE?
>> ALL RIGHT. LET ME PUT THIS IN CONTEXT FIRST.
I WANT TO BE CALCULATED IN MY APPROACH TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PARTIES ARE TREATED FAIRLY, MY RESIDENTS ARE TREATED FAIRLY, THE CITY IS TREATED FAIRLY, THE DEVELOPERS TREATED FAIRLY.
I CANNOT SAY THAT I TRUST THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE CITY ATTORNEY TONIGHT.
[00:30:08]
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SOMEWHAT SKEWED.I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO.
COMPEL THE CITY NOT TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT AT HAND AND IN THE INTERIM, HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO LOOK AT ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LAWSUIT AND COME BACK TO A MEETING AT A TIME CERTAIN BEFORE THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED TO ADVISE THE CITY COMMISSION ON IT'S INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS.
THE MOTION IS TO HALT SIGNING THE AGREEMENT.
>> HALT SIGNING THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS PENDING OUTSIDE COUNSEL OF MY CHOICE BECAUSE THIS IS MY DISTRICT AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REVIEW ALL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE LAWSUIT BEFORE THIS DOCUMENT IS SIGNED.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COMMUNITY GETS A FAIR SHOT.
SO MY MOTION IS TO HALT SIGNING THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT PENDING HIRING OF A OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REVIEW THE LAWSUIT.
>> TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND IS SECOND, THE CITY CLERK MUST CALL THE QUESTION AT THIS TIME.
>> NOT IF THERE'S DISCUSSION TO BE HAD.
>> THE DISCUSSION IS FINISHED.
>> THIS IS NOT AN ITEM. THE DISCUSSION IS FINISHED.
CITY ATTORNEY, THAT DISCUSSION IS FINISHED.
I MADE SURE THAT I ASKED IF THERE WAS FURTHER DISCUSSION AND I'D LIKE TO END THE DISCUSSION WITH PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO THE EXTENT THAT A MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR AND WAS SECONDED, THE CITY CLERK MUST NOW CALL THE QUESTION.
>> UNLESS, IF YOU WILL, MS. [INAUDIBLE] THAT THE MAYOR WOULD PERMIT ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION BEFORE THE VOTE IS TAKEN.
>> I AM ALLOWED TO PERMIT ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AS YOUR MOTION HAS ADDED THINGS THAT WERE NOT.
>> THEN I CAN MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO STOP YOU MADAM MAYOR.
>> THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE MOTION VICE MAYOR, I'M ALLOWED TO HAVE MY COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION.
BUT THERE'S TWO THINGS AT PLAY.
>> COMMENT ON MY MOTION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. GO AHEAD.
>> WE HAD TWO PEOPLE THAT EXPRESSED TO PUT THIS IN THE BACKEND.
I GAVE YOU PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BASED ON BELIEF THAT THIS WOULD BE MOVED TO THE BACKEND, NOT TO START A WHOLE DISCUSSION.
SO SEEING THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
I'M GOING TO ASK TWO CLARIFYING QUESTIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY BEFORE I PUT THIS OUT FOR A VOTE.
CITY ATTORNEY, DO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW AGREEMENT, CURRENTLY WHAT IS BEFORE US WITHIN POSSIBLY 10 DAYS IS THE FINALIZATION OF AN ALREADY SIGNED AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS COMMITTED TO FINALIZE THIS TRANSACTION?
>> IF WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, THE CITY WILL BE SUED AGAIN. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT'S A SPECIAL COUNSEL, MR. BURKE.
>> WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS PRESTIGE HOMES IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC WERE INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS PROPERTY.
PRESTIGE HOMES MAINTAINED THAT IT DEDICATED IT PURSUANT TO A PLAT APPROVAL PROCESS, AND IT WAS DEDICATED SOLELY FOR USE AS A FIRE STATION.
THE PROPERTY WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR A FIRE STATION, COULD NOT BE BUILT AS A FIRE STATION BY THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND THE LITIGATION, ESSENTIALLY BY PRESTIGE HOMES SOUGHT TO GET THE PROPERTY BACK BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE IT WAS DEDICATED FOR.
THE CITY AND PRESTIGE HOMES AGREED THAT
[00:35:02]
IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE COUNTY TO REMOVE THAT RESTRICTION, THAT IS THE RESTRICTION OF ONLY A FIRE STATION, THAT THE PARTIES WOULD SETTLE THE LAWSUIT BY SELLING THE PROPERTY AND DIVIDING THE PROCEEDS.THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COURT, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE COURT.
THE COURT SETTLED THE CASE AND CLOSED THE CASE AND RETAINED JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE THAT AGREEMENT THAT I'VE JUST DESCRIBED.
THE PARTIES WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE COUNTY REMOVE THAT RESTRICTION.
AS A RESULT, THE CITY AND PRESTIGE HOMES ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT TO SELL THAT LAND.
THAT CONTRACT IS STILL IN FORCE AND ITS PRECEDING TOWARDS THE CLOSING OF THAT CONTRACT.
IT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CITY CHOSE NOT TO PROCEED FORWARD, IS THAT PRESTIGE HOMES WILL SIMPLY GO INTO COURT AND THE COURT IN ENFORCING THAT AGREEMENT WILL ENTER AN ORDER REQUIRING THE CITY TO COMPLY WITH IT BECAUSE IT IS AN AGREEMENT.
IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY YOUR CITY COMMISSION.
NOW, PEOPLE MAYBE DISAGREED WITH THAT BUT IT IS A BINDING AGREEMENT THAT THE COURT HAS APPROVED.
NOW, IF THE CITY THEN DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE COURT ORDER, THE COURT WILL PROCEED TO ENFORCE THAT ORDER.
THAT ORDER WILL BE ENFORCED THROUGH THE POWERS OF THE COURT, WHICH INCLUDE CONTEMPT.
THAT INVOLVES MATTERS SUCH AS FINES, IMPRISONMENT, WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO GET IT DONE.
THERE ISN'T ANY AGREEMENT TO SIGN.
AS SOON AS THE TITLE ISSUES ARE WORKED OUT, THAT WILL BE DONE.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, IF THE CITY DOESN'T COMPLY WITH WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH AGREEMENT AND COURT ORDER.
THE COURT WILL SIMPLY ENFORCE IT, AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES TO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY ATTORNEY?
>> ACTUALLY, THIS MIGHT GO TO THE CITY MANAGER, THE REQUEST FOR A INDIVIDUAL, COMMISSIONER OR PERSON ON THIS COMMISSION TO SEEK COUNSEL AND HAVE IT PAID FOR.
>> WELL, MADAM MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD A SITUATION WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER HAS ASKED THE COMMISSION TO ALLOW FOR THE RETAINING OF INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL, BUT ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE CITY.
>> EVEN IF IT'S DIRECTED BY ONE SPECIFIC PERSON AND THE PERSON'S CHOICE VERSUS IT BEING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS OR WHATEVER LEGAL PROCESS WE HAVE ON DETERMINING WHO REPRESENTS THE CITY.
>> IT WOULDN'T BE DIRECTED BY ONE COMMISSIONERS CHOICE PER SE, MADAM MAYOR, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE OF YOU TO AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR IN ORDER TO FACILITATE IT.
AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO GRANT HIM THE AUTHORITY OR PERMISSION TO DO WHAT HIS MOTION HAS REQUESTED.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TRYING TO BACK DOOR AN AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS WORKED ON AND DISCUSS WITH RESIDENTS WHILE SOME ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE AND JUST BECAUSE IT IS A NEW COMMISSION NOW TO TRY TO UNDO SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO DO, THAT THE COURT WILL ACTUALLY COME BACK AND MAKE US DO ANYWAY, I THINK OPENS US UP TO A BIG ISSUE.
AT THIS TIME [NOISE] NO OTHER COMMENTS CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> I CAN ACCESS THE CITY ATTORNEY AT ANYTIME DURING THE MEETING.
IS THAT RIGHT CITY ATTORNEY? I CAN ACCESS AND I CAN ASK YOU ADVICE AT ANY TIME DURING THE MEETING?
>> I CAN ACCESS THE ATTORNEY RIGHT NOW, AND I WILL DO THAT.
>> YOU CAN ALSO ASK TO BE RECOGNIZED.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I'M ASKING MY ATTORNEY A QUESTION.
ROBERT'S RULES DOES NOT SAY I HAVE TO ASK YOU PERMISSION.
>> I RUN THE MEETINGS, SO YEAH, YOU DO.
I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE IT. CITY ATTORNEY YOU MAY ANSWER HIS QUESTION.
IF YOU WOULD, THERE'S SOMEBODY BY A MICROPHONE SOMEWHERE WITH PAPER.
>> THAT'S SOME MICHAEL BURKE WHO CANNOT HEAR.
SO HE HELD UP A SIGN SAYING THAT HE CAN'T HEAR.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK IN A MOMENT AFTER THIS SO WE CAN HAVE SOME OF OUR IT ISSUES WORKED OUT. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOUR VICE MAYOR, BUT I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE PEOPLE AT HOME CAN'T HEAR US.
SO BEFORE WE PROCEED CAN WE FIX THAT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK AND IT WILL BE
[00:40:04]
A PROMPT BREAK UNLESS OUR CITY IT DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE LONGER.IT'S CURRENTLY 7:41, WE'LL BE BACK AT 7:51. WE ARE IN RECESS.
[NOISE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. CURRENTLY 7:55, WE ARE GOING BACK ON THE RECORD.
[BACKGROUND] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, CITY ATTORNEY, [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION ON PROCEDURE.
WE'RE READY TO CALL THE ROLL AS THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN AD HOC IN.
AM I SUPPOSED TO BE ASKING FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON THIS MATTER?
>> YOU COULD, MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU SO CHOSE OR YOU COULD LISTEN TO ANY FURTHER TO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OR FROM MR. BURKE, I THINK HE GAVE YOU AN EXPLANATION AS WELL.
IT'S UP TO THE CHAIR TO OPEN THE DOOR BRIEFLY FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE YOU ADOPT THE MOTION, WHAT CAME FROM THE REPORT I JUST OFFERED. YES.
>> I WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, CITY CLERK, IS THERE ANYBODY THROUGH FACEBOOK OR E-MAIL THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER?
>> THERE IS ONE COMMENT FROM ROBIN LEVINE MARSHMAN, AND SHE SAYS, "CAN YOU PLEASE REMIND BOLTON THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WOODMONT RESIDENTS OUTSIDE FREEZING.
MY 80-YEAR-OLD NUMBER IS ONE OF THEM.
WE REQUEST WOODMONT BE DISCUSSED."
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, FURTHER COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE ASK THE VICE MAYOR TO REPEAT HIS MOTION? THERE WAS A WORD IN THERE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT.
>> WILL THE CITY CLERK READ BACK?
>> I'M SORRY, WILL THE CITY CLERK?
>> "HALT SIGNING CLOSING DOCUMENTS PENDING HIRING OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REVIEW ALL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE LAWSUIT BEFORE THE DOCUMENT IS SIGNED."
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL REVIEW THE DOCUMENT BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS SIGNED BY THE CITY.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED BY THE CITY, IT IS CLOSING DOCUMENTS; IS THAT CORRECT, CITY ATTORNEY?
>> THE DOCUMENT, IF I MAY QUICKLY JUST TO CUT TO THE CHASE, WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, ORDERED BY YOUR SETTLEMENT, ORDERED BY THE COURT, IT'S NOT A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
IT IS THE DOCUMENTS OF CLOSING FOR CLOSING THE TRANSACTION ITSELF, THE DEED, ETC, WHICH IS BEING DESCRIBED.
THERE'S NO DOCUMENTS EXCEPT FOR THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS AS YOU KNOW, MADAM MAYOR.
>> A DEED, A BILL OF SALE, IF ANYTHING.
MAYBE A BILL OF SALE ON THIS VACANT LAND [OVERLAPPING] AFFIDAVITS AND SUPPORT OF ANYTHING ELSE.
>> CUSTOMARY CLOSING DOCUMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REAL ESTATE AGREEMENT APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION TWO YEARS AGO. CORRECT
>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CALLING THE ROLL.
>> BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD TWO THINGS FROM WHAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON WAS SAYING, TO KILL IT OR TO DISCUSS IT, AND BEFORE 10 DAYS ARE OVER SO I'M NOT CLEAR.
>> CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE?
>> MY SENSE FOR THE MOTION, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE VICE MAYOR, IS ESSENTIALLY TO NOT CLOSE THE TRANSACTION, NOT SIGN THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, RETAIN SEPARATE COUNSEL TO REVIEW THE TRANSACTION, AND REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.
ESSENTIALLY, YOU WILL BE NICKING THE WORDS OF MR. BURKE AND MYSELF, BREACHING THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION, THAT'S THE ACCOMPLISHED ACT OF THE MOTION ITSELF.
>> CAN I CLARIFY MY OWN MOTION?
>> YES, I WILL BRING IT BACK TO YOU.
>> WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT WE WILL NOT SIGN THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE'RE HALTING ANY ACTIVITY TO CLOSE THAT CLOSING DOCUMENTS UNTIL I SPEAK WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THE LEGAL ADVICE GIVEN BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY RESIDENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO LEGAL COUNSEL OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR MY CITIZENS OR NOT. THAT IS MY MOTION.
[00:45:06]
>> THAT IS VERY CLEAR TO ME. THANK YOU.
>> DISCUSSION IS NOT TO BE HAD ANY FURTHER AT THIS POINT IN TIME, PLEASE.
>> BASED ON WHAT I HEARD MR. BURKE SAY, I THINK I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SAY NO.
>> THANK YOU. YES OR NOS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, PLEASE. CITY CLERK, CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR BOLTON?
>> THE MOTION FAILS, THREE TO TWO.
MY QUESTION WAS CLARIFIED AFTER MY VOTE AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AFTER MY VOTE.
>> THERE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ANY DISCUSSION AT THE POINT OF TIME.
>> BUT THERE WAS TWO INTERPRETATION OF WHAT I UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE MOTION WAS.
AFTER THAT CLARIFICATION AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMISSION BOLTON WAS ASKING.
>> OKAY. NOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAD SOME CONCERNS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER RIGHT NOW, I'D ENTERTAIN A SECOND.
>> SECOND. I THINK WHAT VICE MAYOR BOLTON IS LOOKING FOR IS JUST A SECOND OPINION.
>> AT ANY POINT IN TIME [OVERLAPPING]
>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST INTERRUPT, FORGIVE ME.
WITH DUE RESPECT TO VICE MAYOR BOLTON, HE WAS ON THE LOSING END OF THE MOTION ITSELF SO HE CAN'T MAKE A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION. IT MUST BE ON THE PREVAILING SIDE.
>> I MADE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, CITY ATTORNEY, BECAUSE I WAS ON THE PREVAILING END OF THE MOTION, I VOTED YES.
I HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECONSIDER MY MOTION, TO RECONSIDER MY VOTE AT THIS MEETING OR THE NEXT AVAILABLE MEETING.
>> I TOTALLY DISAGREE. THE MOTION FAILED HOWEVER BECAUSE COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS VOTED NO.
>> RIGHT, AND I VOTED YES, SO I PREVAILED WITH MY YES VOTE.
>> NO, THE PREVAILING VOTE WAS THREE NOS TO TWO YESES.
>> I VOTED YES SO I HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK FOR RECONSIDERATION OF MY VOTE. YES OR NO?
>> NO. VICE MAYOR, THERE WERE THREE VOTES NO AND TWO VOTES YES.
THEREFORE, THE VOTE DID NOT PASS AND THEREFORE MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION CAN ONLY BE DONE BY ANY ONE OF THE THREE PEOPLE THAT VOTED NO BECAUSE THE MOTION [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S NOT TRUE, IT'S ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED YES.
>> MADAM CHAIR, SITTING ATTORNEY, CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT?
>> YES. THE PREVAILING SIDE WAS A NO VOTE ON THE MOTION OF THREE VOTES AGAINST TWO VOTES IN FAVOR.
THE END RESULT OF WHICH THAT THE PREVAILING SIDE WERE THE NO VOTES, NOT THE PREVAILING SIDE WITH THE YES VOTES.
>> WHO CAN CALL FOR A MOTION TO RECONSIDER?
>> SO ELVIN COULD MAKE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER?
>> IN WHICH COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS WISHES TO, HE WILL PRESS THE BUTTON FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND EVERYBODY WHO WAS NOT SPEAKING, WHO HAS NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED, BECAUSE THIS PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM DOES NOT LET ME KNOW AN ORDER, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU TURN YOUR MICROPHONES OFF SO I CAN KNOW WHO WISHES TO SPEAK.
>> I'D LIKE TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION, PLEASE.
>> YOU'D LIKE TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER BY COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND BY VICE MAYOR BOLTON.
>> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AGAIN FOR RECONSIDERING WHAT WE JUST DID.
>> THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A SEPARATE OUTSIDE COUNSEL THAT IS HIRED TO LOOK AT THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, STOP THE CLOSING THAT IS PENDING RIGHT NOW FROM OCCURRING UNTIL SUCH TIME THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE COUNCIL SELECTED BY VICE MAYOR, AND TO HIS SATISFACTION THEN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE PROCEED. THAT IS THE MOTION.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CORRECT MOTION TO STOP AND I THINK HE'S LOOKING FOR A SECOND OPINION.
IF THE OPINION FROM THE SECOND ATTORNEY IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE ATTORNEY MICHAEL BURKE, THEN THE COMMISSION WILL MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK VICE MAYOR BOLTON IS JUST LOOKING FOR A SECOND OPINION.
>> BUT IF WE'RE TO HALT THE PROCESS IS WHERE THE COMMENT COMES FROM SOMETHING SO IF YOU WISH TO REPHRASE THE MOTION, PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS RECONSIDERED HIS MOTION.
THE PEOPLE ARE WAITING, LET'S CALL THE QUESTION AGAIN.
>> MADAM MAYOR, YOU CAN ISSUE YOUR OWN MOTION OF RECONSIDERATION,
[00:50:01]
THAT'S THE ONLY MOTION ON FLOOR.>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. VICE MAYOR BOLTON?
>> MOTION PASSES THREE TO TWO.
>> NOW THAT THIS IS BACK ON THE TABLE, I MAKE MY ORIGINAL MOTION.
MY ORIGINAL MOTION WAS TO HALT THE PROCEEDINGS OF SIGNING THE CLOSING DOCUMENTS, PENDING ME GOING TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO SEEK ADVICE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE-
>> ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT A TIME FRAME ON THERE AS YOU HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE IS A TEN DAY-
>> FIFTEEN DAYS? SO YOU'RE ALREADY TAKING CLOSING AND PUSHING IT OUT?
>> THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, "END OF DECEMBER, IT COULD BE JANUARY." THOSE WERE HIS WORDS.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE THAN 15 DAYS LEFT IN DECEMBER.
>> WITH HOLIDAYS. I'LL TAKE 15 DAYS WITH HOLIDAYS.
>> WOULD YOU ADD THAT TO YOUR MOTION, PLEASE?
>> HOW ABOUT RESTATING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE, AT THE CITY'S EXPENSE, OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO LOOK OVER THE DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE LAWSUIT, SO THAT I CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION FOR MY RESIDENTS, AND THAT OUTSIDE COUNSEL SHOULD GIVE ME AN ANSWER WITHIN 15 DAYS OF THIS VOTE.
THAT'S MY MOTION, AND I'D LIKE A SECOND.
>> WELL, IT'S FAILING FOR A LACK OF A SECOND RIGHT NOW. CITY ATTORNEY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. CITY ATTORNEY?
>> ON THE TIME FRAME FOR THIS, BECAUSE THIS COMMISSION DOES NOT COME BACK TO YOU OR TO THE CITY COMMISSION UNTIL IT'S THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN JANUARY.
THEREFORE, HOW WILL THERE BE A DETERMINATION AND A KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS GOING FORTH? WE ARE LETTING THIS SIMPLY RIDE ON THE DETERMINATION OF ONE?
>> WELL, IF I MAY, WITHOUT GETTING INTO GREAT DETAIL BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING AND YOU'D LIKE TO EXPEDITE THE AGENDA, I FULLY APPRECIATE THAT.
MY REPORT HAS EXPANDED WELL BEYOND JUST THE REPORT, BECAUSE FRANKLY, YOU'RE BOUND BY THE DOCUMENTS THAT I BOTH DESCRIBED TO YOU AND MR. BURKE DESCRIBED TO YOU.
BUT NOTWITHSTANDING THAT ISSUE, AND THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF MAKING THE DECISION WHICH YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE.
IT'S A RARE SITUATION WHERE A MEMBER OF A PUBLIC BODY GETS TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE LAWYER.
TYPICALLY WHEN YOU ENGAGE AN ATTORNEY, YOU'RE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER UNDER THE CHARTER AS THE CITY ATTORNEY TYPICALLY MAKES THOSE ENGAGEMENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING SINCE I'VE HAD SITTING IN THE SEAT.
SECONDARILY, THE COMMISSION USUALLY HIRES, IT CAN HIRE A LAWYER IF IT SO CHOOSES, BUT NOT AN INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER.
BUT IF YOU WISH TO DO THIS BY MOTION, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.
IT'S JUST SIMPLY IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE CHARTER, IN MY OPINION, AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CITY, TO ENGAGE A LAWYER.
IF IT BE THE WISH OF A COMMISSIONER TO HAVE THE CITY ENGAGE AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY, THAT'S ONE THING.
TO HAVE A COMMISSIONER MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMISSION'S COMMITMENT TO THAT, IS A BIT OF AN ODD SITUATION.
I MUST CONFESS THAT FOR THE RECORD, IT'S AN ODD SITUATION AND IT'S IRREGULAR.
>> AS IT IS IRREGULAR AND AS WE ARE A COMMISSION BASED ON TIME FRAMES AND THERE IS A CLOSING THAT IS BASED ON TIME FRAMES.
THIS WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK FOR VOTE OF THE BODY, WOULD IT NOT? APPENDING THE VICE MAYOR'S DECISION [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THE MOTION IS I READ IT AS YOUR LAWYER SITTING IN THIS SEAT, IT BASICALLY IT DIFFERS THE CLOSING.
THIS ALLOWS YOUR CITY ATTORNEY TO CLOSE THE TRANSACTION, NUMBER ONE, AND ALLOWS THE REVIEW OF THAT MATTER TO AN OUTSIDE LAWYER TO REVIEW THAT FURTHER, AND REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMISSION, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CITY, IF IT'S BEEN CALLED TO CLOSING, WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT TRANSACTION TIMELY, AND WOULD ALSO BE IN DEFAULT.
>> NO, NO, IT DOESN'T. IF I MAY [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL IT DOES ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I'M GIVING YOU MY BEST LEGAL ANSWER.
WHEN YOU CALL TO CLOSE A TRANSACTION, YOU DAMN WELL BETTER CLOSE IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CONTRACT REQUIRES.
>> MR. ATTORNEY, I'M FOLLOWING YOUR ADVICE AND YOUR VERBIAGE HERE.
IF I'M NOT CORRECT, IT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE ORIGINALLY NOT CORRECT.
YOU FIRST STATED THAT WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.
WE'RE NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT BEFORE WE SIGN CLOSING DOCUMENTS, ALL I WANT TO DO IS CONSULT OUTSIDE ATTORNEY.
AFTER I DO THAT, AND MY OUTSIDE COUNSELOR SAYS, "YES, YOU CAN." YOU'RE FREE TO GO AHEAD AND EXECUTE THAT AGREEMENT.
I WOULD TELL YOU AT THAT TIME, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE.
[00:55:02]
>> WHICH PRECISELY GOES BACK TO MY COMMENT IS THAT THIS IS SUBJECT TO ONE PERSON'S REVIEW OF THIS, AND HOLDING THE CLOSING OF THAT PENDING YOUR PERSONAL REVIEW.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY IS NOT WORTH IT?
>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU LOOKED IN THEIR EYES, MADAM MAYOR, YOU TOLD THEM THAT A STORAGE FACILITY COULD BE BUILT IN THE CORNER OF COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD BLOCKING THEIR VIEW-
>> VICE MAYOR, DO NOT TRY TO RE-LITIGATE THIS MATTER.
>> THIS IS NOT WHAT IS BEFORE US AT THIS TIME.
>> THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, AND A SECOND.
>> THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THE MOTION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
CONSIDERING THE CLOSING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF DECEMBER, YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR REVIEW PENDING AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEN SUBJECT TO YOUR REVIEW OF YOUR ATTORNEY'S SAY SO ON THE DOCUMENTS, WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THE CITY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT IT IS ALREADY CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO SIGN.
>> FIFTEEN DAYS ON BEHALF OF MY RESIDENTS.
I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
>> MADAM MAYOR, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE DISCUSSION AND NOT TO IMPUGN THE CHARACTER OF ANYBODY ON THE COMMISSION.
BUT WHEN YOU HIRE AN ATTORNEY, TYPICALLY YOU DO SO BY AN ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
YOU HAVE [INAUDIBLE] , YOU HAVE A SCOPE OF SERVICES.
THAT'S NOT EVEN BEEN DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
YOU'RE WRITING A BLANK CHECK TO HIRE A LAWYER.
JUST WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THAT MOTION.
I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TELL YOU THAT AS YOUR LAWYER.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO OTHERWISE, THAT'S UP TO YOU.
WHEN YOU HIRE AN OUTSIDE FIRM, YOU HAVE AN HOURLY RATE, YOU HAVE A SCOPE OF SERVICES, AND YOU ENGAGE THEM BASED UPON THE ASSIGNMENT.
THAT NOT BEING SAID IN THIS MOTION OR IN THIS DISCUSSION LEAVES OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU'RE WRITING A BLANK CHECK.
>> WHEN THE MAYOR WANTED TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL BACK IN 2018 TO INVESTIGATE HER COLLEAGUE, DID YOU COME TO THE COMMISSION AND ASKED US?
>> VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO SIGN A BLANK CHECK?
>> VICE MAYOR, YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.
>> SAM GOREN, YOU ARE FULL OF HOLY BIBLE.
DON'T TELL ME THAT WE ARE GIVING A-
>> VICE MAYOR, YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.
>> NO. WE NEVER CAME TO THE CITY COMMISSION-
>> YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER, VICE MAYOR.
>> I AM NOT OUT OF ORDER, MADAM MAYOR.
>> MAY I SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE?
>> OKAY. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN COME TO A NICE COMPROMISE HERE.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, KNOWING THE VICE MAYOR, HE HAS AN ATTORNEY IN MIND.
IF HE HAS AN ATTORNEY IN MIND, AND IT WILL MOVE THIS ALONG AND HE CAN DO THIS FOR HIS RESIDENTS, LET YOUR ATTORNEY, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, AND LET'S MOVE ALONG, AND LET'S GET TO WHATNOT. OKAY?
>> THE PURPOSE OF THE QUESTIONS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER, ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THE CITY ATTORNEY IS STATING, WE'RE NOT WRITING A BLANK CHECK TO A PERSON WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE AS A REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY.
WHO DEALS WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND LITIGATION.
THERE ARE SPECIALTIES IN THE LAW.
THEREFORE, IT WOULD BEHOOVE US AS A COMMISSION IF THIS IS TO GO FORWARD, TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A COMPLETE OUTLINE SO WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
>> THAT'S WHY YOU HIRED LEGAL, LEVI WILLIAMS, WHO IS AN AMBULANCE CHASER-
>> YOU BRING UP STUFF THAT IS NOT RELEVANT AND INACCURATE.
THE MOTION IS THERE FOR THIS COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER GALLON?
>> NO INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER OR MAYOR HAS THE RIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELECT AN INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEY.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE US, AND WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO DECIDE UPON THAT.
IF WE HAVE A COURT ORDER TO EXECUTE SOMETHING, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL SHADE MEETING, OR AN EMERGENCY MEETING, TO APPROVE OR DENY WHATEVER THE SELECTED ATTORNEY IS, BUT THAT ATTORNEY WOULD BE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ATTORNEY MICHAEL BURKE, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY SAM GOREN, AND THEY WOULD UPDATE THAT ATTORNEY ON WHATEVER THE FACTS ARE IN THE CASE, AND BRIEF VICE MAYOR BOLTON, AND THEN HE MAY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT YES, THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS CORRECT, ATTORNEY MICHAEL BURKE WAS CORRECT, AND WE DO HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EXECUTING THE CONTRACT.
I THINK IT'S HIM TRYING TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE FOR HIS RESIDENTS.
IT'S LIKE SOMEONE GETTING A SECOND OPINION BEFORE GOING FOR SURGERY.
I THINK THE PEOPLE HERE IN WOODMONT WOULD WANT THE SAME THING IF THEY HAD AN ITEM, AND WANTED A SECOND OPINION BEFORE WE WERE ALLOWED TO MOVE FORWARD.
[01:00:03]
FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, WITH ALL THESE FOLKS WAITING ON AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THEM, WE SHOULD JUST MOVE FORWARD AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE DO MAKE A SELECTION, THAT PERSON HAS TO BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE TWO ATTORNEYS ALREADY INVOLVED WITH THE CASE, GIVE COMMISSIONER BOLTON AND HIS COMMUNITY A BRIEFING, AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO GO ON.
>> WE DO. AGREE THAT WE DO NEED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
THE WOODMONT ITEM AND THE REST OF THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE.
THE ISSUE IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO REVISIT THINGS AFTER THE ORIGINAL HEARINGS FOR THIS.
TO WAIT TILL NOW IS ANOTHER MATTER WHICH HAS CREATED A TIMING ISSUE.
WHICH IS CREATING, POTENTIAL LEGAL ISSUES FOR OUR CITY.
SO AS MUCH AS I DO APPRECIATE THAT EVERYBODY'S HERE FOR WOODMONT, AND I KNOW YOU WANT US TO GO FORWARD.
TO ALLOW US TO GO FORWARD AND NOT HAVE THE COMPLETE CONVERSATION NOW ON SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO THE BACK-END THAT WAS REQUESTED, HAS UNFORTUNATELY BECOME SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING NOW, AND WE UNFORTUNATELY NEED TO COMPLETE THIS PART OF IT, BECAUSE I DO NOT HEAR A MOTION TO PUT THIS TO THE BACK-END SO WE CAN GET TO WOODMONT, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A PENDING MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
I'M SORRY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME STRUCTURE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS CITY COMMISSION WRITING A BLANK CHECK AND NOT HAVING A TIME-FRAME FOR HOW TO GET IT DONE IN TIME CAUSES AN ISSUE FOR BRINGING IT BACK TO THIS COMMISSION.
BECAUSE THE COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO-
>> THAT IS YOUR OPINION MADAM MAYOR, AND YOUR OPINION IS NOTED.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR IN THE SECOND.
IF WE CALL THE QUESTION NOW, WE CAN MOVE ON TO WOODMONT.
>> EXCUSE ME. CAN I SAY SOMETHING PLEASE, MADAME MAYOR? MAY I?
>> CAN WE JUST VOTE ON THIS AND JUST MOVE FORWARD? PEOPLE ARE WAITING.
THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS AND WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON AND MOVE ON.
WE KEEP GOING THIS TIT FOR TAT, AND QUITE HONESTLY, WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON IT.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT OPINIONS WE HAVE, JUST VOTE ON IT, MOVE ON.
MY TONE IS NOT ANGER OR ANYTHING, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WAITING.
>> SO IF WE CAN JUST MOVE ON WITH THE MOTION, VOTE, AND MOVE ON.
>> THIS IS YOUR MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION THAT WAS-
>> OKAY, WE'RE PAST THAT. WE ARE NOW VOTING ON THE MAIN MOTION AGAIN.
CITY CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
>> I'LL BE FAIR. YES, LET'S MOVE ON.
>> MOTION PASSES, FOUR TO ONE.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO AFTER THE CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT WAS THE REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER PLACKO FOR THIS COMMISSION TO MOVE THEIR REPORTS TO THE BACK END OF THE MEETING OR TO NOT HAVE THEM AT ALL AT THIS MEETING.
I WILL START WITH YOU COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, WILL YOU PUT YOUR REPORTS AT THE BACK END, AND IF NOT, NOT HAVE THEM AT ALL?
>> WOODMONT RESIDENCY TO BE HEARD AT THIS MOMENT, MADAM MAYOR.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GELIN?
[3.b. Commissioner Gelin]
>> I CAN BYPASS MY COMMISSION REPORT, BUT I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO SOME NEGATIVE ARTICLES THAT WERE WRITTEN BY THE SUN-SENTINEL, AS IT RELATES TO BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICES.
THEY WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WITH A 70-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT WHOSE HOME WAS ATTACKED.
THEY GAVE THE APPEARANCE THAT TAMARAC IS A NOT A SAFE PLACE OR BSO IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
HOWEVER, THE PERSON ATTACKING THE HOMEOWNER WAS ARRESTED PEACEFULLY.
HE WAS NOT ATTACKED OR BRUTALIZED BY THE POLICE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT TAMARAC IS A SAFE PLACE, BSO IS DOING THEIR JOB.
THEY RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY TO THAT PARTICULAR ACTION.
THE CALL THAT WAS MADE TO 9-1-1 THAT WAS PLAYED ON THE NEWS AND ON THE SUN-SENTINEL WEBSITE, IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY.
WE, AS A COMMISSION, HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE LOCAL CAPTAIN AND FROM OTHER BSO OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION, SO WE GOT ALL SIDES OF THE STORY.
BSO DID RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
THE HOMEOWNER WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A CASH BENEFIT FOR SOME OTHER DAMAGES, WHICH SHOWED BSO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO RESPOND AND HELP THE HOMEOWNER IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
[01:05:01]
THE ARTICLES THAT WERE WRITTEN AND THE COMMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN WERE INACCURATE.I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT TAMARAC IS A SAFE PLACE, BSO IS DOING THEIR JOB.
THEY ARE WORKING TO KEEP US PROTECTED, AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR JOB AND KEEP OUR DOORS LOCKED AND OUR CAR KEYS SAFE.
WHAT YOU READ IN NEWSPAPERS ARE NOT ALWAYS TRUE.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GELIN. COMMISSIONER PLACKO, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE WAVED YOURS. VICE MAYOR BOLTON?
[3.a. Vice Mayor Bolton]
>> THE RESIDENCE OF MY DISTRICT ASKED ME TO ADDRESS THE BSO ISSUE.
WITH WOODMONT WAITING, I WILL NOT ADDRESS IT.
I JUST WANT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING TO KNOW THAT, IT IS NOT THAT I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I HAVE A WHOLE WRITTEN RESEARCH ON IT AND WHAT MY RESIDENTS ARE SAYING, BUT I WILL FOREGO THAT.
I WILL USE THIS TIME TO JUST EXPRESS MY DISDAIN WITH HOW THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST HANDLED EVERYTHING TONIGHT.
I THINK THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.
THIS IS NOT A MOTION, BUT THIS IS RATHER A VERY QUICK REQUEST TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT IF AT SOME POINT DURING THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE, THAT I WOULD BRING FORTH A MOTION TO SEEK THE SERVICES OF A NEW LAW FIRM TO REPRESENT THE CITY, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BE AMENABLE TO DO.
IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE SAM GOREN HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY.
IN MY MIND, AFTER HEARING THE ADVICE THAT HE'S GIVEN TONIGHT, I'M NOT SO HAPPY WITH HIS SERVICES.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR FULL DISCUSSION.
I'M JUST ASKING MY COLLEAGUES WITH A YES OR NO ANSWER SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WITH BUSINESS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD WANT TO ENTERTAIN ANOTHER ATTORNEY IN THE FUTURE REPRESENTING OUR CITY.
>> VICE MAYOR, YOUR REQUEST FOR THAT POLL WILL BE DENIED.
IF YOU WISH TO HAVE THIS MATTER ON THE SUBJECT, YOU CAN BRING IT UP SIX BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MADAM MAYOR, MY REPORT IS NOT DONE.
>> WELL, YOUR REQUEST FOR A POLL IS.
>> I CAN MAKE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR, AT ANY POINT.
>> WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS VICE MAYOR AND GRANDSTANDING IS NOT APPRECIATED BY ANYBODY HERE.
>>I CAN ASK FOR A SECOND AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS.
>> AS YOU KNOW THE RULES VICE MAYOR, YOU WISH TO NOT ADHERE TO THEM CONTINUALLY.
>> WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS ON A MOTION BASIS.
>> YOU CAN BRING IT UP PROPERLY PER THE PROCEDURES THAT YOU ACTUALLY ASKED TO BE ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WHICH THEY ARE.
THEY DO STATE THAT FOR ANY ITEM TO BE PUT ONTO THE AGENDA UNLESS IT IS AN URGENT ITEM, WHICH THIS IS NOT AN URGENT ITEM, SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY CLERK SIX BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO A MEETING.
IT IS NOT SIX BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING; THEREFORE, THIS WILL NOT BE PULLED AND WE WILL NOT HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION.
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR REPORT.
>> CITY ATTORNEY AS CITY MANAGER ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENDA.
ADD AS AN AGENDA ITEM, THE FIRING OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> CITY CLERK, AS FOR THE RECORD.
>> I'M SPEAKING TO MY MANAGER. DID YOU HEAR ME?
>> YOU'RE CLEAR. YOUR MOTION WAS LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> IS SIX DAYS ENOUGH FOR YOU? MORE THAN SIX DAYS?
>> IT'S CERTAINLY MORE THAN SIX DAYS, VICE.
>> OKAY. CITY CLERK, HAVE YOU RECORDED THIS?
[01:10:01]
>> ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR REPORT?
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR MICROPHONE.
>> AT THIS POINT, I'LL PASS, MADAM MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AT THIS TIME, OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE ALREADY WAVED MY REPORT.
WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION,
[6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION]
AND I WILL READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.THIS IS ALSO FOR EVERYONE IN REFERENCE TO WHO ARE IN TENDENCY OF THE WOODMONT ITEMS, YOUR ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN WHEN THE ITEM MOVES FORWARD, ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK TO ANY ISSUE THAT IS NOT AGENDIZED FOR PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS MEETING, SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES DURING THIS ITEM, AND AT PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THERE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTE AGGREGATE TIME LIMIT FOR THIS ITEM.
ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO COMMENT PUBLICLY ON ANY MATTER, INCLUDING ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, MAY SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS BY EMAIL TO CITYCLERK@TAMARAC.ORG.
ALL COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL THAT IF READ ORALLY OR THREE MINUTES OR LESS, SHALL BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
ALL COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL SHALL BE MADE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY ALSO BE SUBMITTED ONLINE DURING THE MEETING THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO REGISTER ONLINE AT HTTPS://WWW.TAMARAC.ORG/ SIGNUP.
INDIVIDUALS WHO REGISTER WILL BE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME DURING THE MEETING TO OFFER THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WHEN AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED QUASI JUDICIAL, PUBLIC REMARKS SHALL ONLY BE HEARD DURING THE PLAZA JUDICIAL HEARING THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY NOTICED FOR THE MATTER.
EVERYBODY HERE FOR WOODMONT, YOU'LL BE HEARD AT THAT TIME, THAT WE BRING THE ITEM FORWARD.
AT THIS TIME, I AM OPENING IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT OFFER ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, AND I HAVE ANDREW DWAR AND IF YOU WOULD, ANDREW DWAR ARE YOU HERE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA? [NOISE]SORRY.
PLEASE COME UP TO THIS MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR ADDRESS IF NOT, PLEASE STATE THE CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.
>> FIRST NAME ANDREW, LAST NAME TOWARD DWAR D-W-A-R ADDRESS 4035 NORTHWEST 48 TERRACE, TIM WRECK, FLORIDA. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE, SO I'M A BRAND NEW RESIDENT IN THE HIDDEN TRAILS DEVELOPMENT AND MY PURPOSE OF THIS POINT IS TO GET THE INDIVIDUALS OF THE CITY TO LOOK UPON THE ADDITIONAL TAXES THAT WERE LEVIED ON TO OUR DEVELOPMENT.
WHERE I WOULD WISH IF YOU COULD FURTHER LOOK INTO THE ADDITIONAL 2400 TAXES THAT WAS TAXED UPON EVERYONE, SO THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST, SORRY I'M NOT USED TO SPEAKING IN FRONT OF IT.
>> JUST TO LOOK INTO IT TO BETTER ASSESS WHY THESE TAXES WERE APPLIED TO US, AND GIVE US, GIVE A SECOND LOOK INTO HOW YOU CAN ALLEVIATE THE TAX BURDEN UPON THE CITIZENS OF TAMARAC ESPECIALLY THE NEW HOMEOWNERS, JUST LIKE ME.
WHERE I FEEL LIKE THE 2400 IS EXCESSIVE AND IS PUT INTO BURDEN AND NOT ONLY ON ME, BUT EVERY OTHER RESIDENT THAT LIVES IN THAT DEVELOPMENT.
WHERE WE FEEL WE'RE A VALUE OR A PERFECT ASSESSMENT OF TAXES WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
BUT MY MAIN POINT IS IF YOU COULD JUST REALLY REASSESS THE VALUE OF WHAT WAS APPLIED INTO THAT COMMUNITY AND LOOK TO SEE HOW YOU CAN ALLEVIATE THAT BURDEN OR APPLY APPROPRIATE MEASURES THAT EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN THAT COMMUNITY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT BECAUSE THE ADDITIONAL TAXES THAT WERE APPLIED WERE EXCESSIVE TOO MUCH AND IT MAKES IT HARD FOR US AS THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THAT COMMUNITY WITH THE EXTRA BURDEN OF ALL THESE TAXES, THEN IT CAN POSSIBLY GO UP BUT FOR US, WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE.
WE LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY, WE HAVE INVESTED INTERESTS.
WE FEEL THAT IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME.
IT'S A BRAND-NEW COMMUNITY, IT'S A BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE ARE TAXES THAT WERE ADDITIONAL AS PER THE WHATEVER THE LEGAL TERMS THAT THE LAWYER USE AT THE CLOSING, IT JUST WASN'T APPROPRIATE AND RIGHT TO BE ASSESSED UPON THAT PROPERTY AND THAT DEVELOPMENT WHERE IT COULD BE RE-EVALUATED AND LOOKED ABOUT, "YOU KNOW WHAT, WE APPLY TOO MUCH.
WE SHOULD ALLEVIATE THE TAX BURDEN UPON THAT DEVELOPMENT", AND THAT'S MY POINT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> UNDERSTOOD I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, I JUST THE BUTTONS AREN'T WORKING AND I DO SEE THE NUMBERS ON MY PHONE.
[01:15:03]
IF YOU WOULD, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S PRESENT OR NOT, BUT WE WILL GET YOU HER NUMBER AND ASK THAT YOU SPEAK WITH HER REGARDING THE INITIAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE.I'M SURE VICE MAYOR BOLTON, WHO IS YOUR DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONER CAN TALK TO YOU FURTHER ABOUT THAT, AND IF NOT, I'M SURE ANY OF US ON THE COMMISSIONER ARE WILLING TO AS WELL. OKAY?
>> SORRY TO WANT TO TAKE MUCH TIME, BUT THAT WAS JUST WHAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, NO I APPRECIATE IS JUST IT DID GO THREE MINUTES, BUT IT'S THANK YOU FOR COMING AND WELCOME TO THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. MR RON WASSERMAN. THERE YOU ARE.
YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR NORMAL SIT.
CITY CLERK DO WE HAVE OUR CLOCK WORKING BETTER NOW? THANK YOU.
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE THIS COMMISSION MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES.
COMMISSIONER, VILLALOBOS, WELCOME, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO JUST HELP PATIENTS FOLKS JUST A COUPLE MINUTES HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S HIT HOME TO ME SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT'S COLON CANCER.
COLON CANCER STOLE PART OF MY COLON.
I'M ASKING EVERYONE, YOU'RE 40 YEARS OLD, 45 YEARS OLD, PLEASE BE TESTED.
THIS IS AN EASY CANCER TO POTENTIALLY DEAL WITH.
GET A COLONOSCOPY, SO FOR YOU GUYS, ESPECIALLY, THIS AFFECTS MEN AND WOMEN.
FOR YOU GUYS WHO WANT TO JUST ROLL, THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
STAGE ONE, STAGE TWO, STAGE THREE, AND STAGE FOUR AND YOU'RE GONE AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED SO THAT'S THAT.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME ABOUT THAT.
COLON CANCER IS THE DEVIL WORKING ON THIS EARTH.
NUMBER 2, PEOPLE COME AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CITY QUITE OFTEN AND I'VE COME BEFORE YOU QUITE OFTEN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ISSUES AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
WE'LL GET TO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME.
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT EMS FIRE RESCUE.
IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, I HAD TO USE THEM TWICE AND JUST FOR A LITTLE SMILE ON PEOPLE'S FACE, THEY CAME TO THE HOUSE, DRESSED IN A HAZMAT SUIT, OPENED THE DOOR.
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, AND THERE WAS A BIGGER GUAN WHO JUMPED INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
THANK YOU, CHIEF, YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
JUST IN CLOSING AT 52 SECONDS, THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME.
THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING.
MOVING FORWARD, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THERE WERE GOING TO FACE AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, AFTER LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME, I'M PART OF THE POLTY PROGRESS.
BOY, SO JUST KNOW THIS AND I BELIEVE THIS FIRMLY.
OUR CITY IS RUN BY SPECIAL INTERESTS, BUILDERS AND ATTORNEYS.
THEY'RE PUSHING THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT.
[BACKGROUND] THANK YOU, FOLKS FOR LISTENING TO ME, KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS [APPLAUSE].
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU DO NOT CLAP.
YOU DO NOT CHEER AS I ASKED EARLIER, PLEASE JUST SNAP IF YOU HAVE TO.
>> THANKS I GOT MINE DONE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
>> YES, I'VE HAD MY 14TH ONE DONE TOO, SO [BACKGROUND] EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IT.
[BACKGROUND] CITY CLERK, THESE ARE ALL THE NAMES THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE LIST FOR PEOPLE, IS THERE ANYBODY BY FACEBOOK, FACEBOOK OR EMAIL THAT WISH TO SPEAK.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMENTS VIA FACEBOOK AND PRIMARILY REMAINED TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM IN WHICH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE CLOSED, SO THERE ARE A FEW THAT HAVE COME FORWARD NOW.
DENISE DAVIS SAYS, "WHERE ARE THE TAXES GOING?" ADAM REYNOLDS SAYS, "HE IS TOO INTERESTED IN HEARING HIMSELF TALK." DENISE DAVIS SAYS, "WHY ARE THEY SO HIGH IN THE NEW COMMUNITY?" LIBERA MAGLIOCOCO CDD FEE,
[01:20:04]
LIBERIA MAGLIOCOCO SAYS, "THAT'S NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION GIVEN NUMBER WHO WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE ANYONE PICK UP." ROBYN LEVINE MARSH MEN SAYS, "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? WHY IS CANCER BEING DISCUSSED? " THERE'S ONE OTHER ONE HERE.THIS IS LIBERA MAGLIOCOCO, "RESIDENTS OF HIDDEN TRAILS DO NOT FEEL SAFE.
WE HAVE OUR CARS EITHER ROBBED AND BETWEEN 12 AM AND 4 AM THERE UP TO SIX MALES TRYING TO BREAK INTO OUR CARS WAY TOO OFTEN WE NEED VSO TO PATROL AT THESE TIMES." THEN I HAVE ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY JEN DENZIN TODAY, SHE'S AT 4747 NORTHWEST 48 TERRACE IN TAMARAC, SHE SAYS TO THE COMMISSION, "HIDDEN TRAILS IS A NEW COMMUNITY WITH 214 NEWLY BUILT HOMES.
WE ARE LOCATED IN THE MAINLANDS BY MAINLANDS PARK.
OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE'VE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS CAR BREAK-INS AND ONGOING CAR THEFT.
THE HOMEOWNERS ARE REQUESTING AND DEMANDING VSO TO CONSISTENTLY PATROL IN LATE HOURS BETWEEN 12:30 AM AND 05:30 AM.
WE ARE CALLING FOR ACTION ON THIS MATTER.
THIS NEEDS TO BE ON VSO NIGHTLY SCHEDULE AND A PRIORITY.
THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO BE UPDATED ON ANY PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THIS MATTER.
WE FEEL WE ARE BEING TARGETED DUE TO OUR LOCATION.
WE HAD A HUGE INFLUX OF CAR THEFT THIS PAST WEEKEND.
AS HOMEOWNERS PAYING THE HIGHEST TAXES IN TAMARAC, WE SHOULDN'T FEEL UNSAFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, JONELLE DWAR DENSON."
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS CAPTAIN SOMONELO ON THERE, THAT MIGHT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING.
BUT IN REFERENCE TO THAT, I DO KNOW THAT OUR VSO IS LOOKING INTO IT, AND THERE WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AT THIS POINT, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? [BACKGROUND] FROM PUBLIC, FROM THE EMAILS, OR ANYTHING ELSE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
WE WILL GO THROUGH A CONSENT AGENDA.
[7. CONSENT AGENDA]
AFTER CONSENT AGENDA, WE WILL TAKE A MOMENTARY BREAK, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO JUMP TO THE QUASI JUDICIAL OF WOODMONT.WE WILL BE SKIPPING THE ONUS ON FIRST READING FOR THE CREATION OF THE INCURRIFICATION OF THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION ADVISORY BOARD, WE WILL PUT THAT TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
CITY MANAGER, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> THERE ARE NONE THIS EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.
>> IS THERE ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY ITEMS TO REMOVE? WELL, I DO.
I AM GOING TO PULL FROM THE AGENDA, NUMBER JTR13540 TO MAKE A COMMENT.
AT THIS TIME, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION AND SECOND.
>> THE AGENDA WITH THAT ONE ITEM PULLED.
THANK YOU. I'VE GOT A MOTION, I NEED A SECOND.
>> CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. VICE MAYOR, BOLTON.
>> MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, FIVE TO ZERO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF I CAN ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU'LL HAVE A MOMENT. I PROMISE.
>> CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
[7.j. TR13540 - Commissioner District 3 - Board Appointments]
>> THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT, CORRECT MADAM MAYOR?
>> TR13540 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY TAMARAC, FLORIDA APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, PLANNING BOARD, AND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE TO SERVE A TERM CONCURRENT WITH THE APPOINTING COMMISSION MEMBER OR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE NEW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.
PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS OF ABILITY, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, BEFORE DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THE REASON I HAVE PULLED THIS ITEM IS OUR PROCEDURES SET BY
[01:25:02]
OUR ORDINANCES CLEARLY STATE THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS IN SECTION 2-58, "A CITY COMMISSION SHALL REQUEST THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS," SORRY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK I'M GOING FOR NEW GLASSES.YEAH. I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE, "MEET THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMITTEE, SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO A SPECIFIC ADVISORY BOARD.
THE CITY CLERK SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE CITY COMMISSION'S REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE CITY'S ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES THROUGH NOTICES POSTED AT CITY HALL, ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND ON THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION." CITY MANAGER, WAS THIS DONE?
>> NO, MADAM MAYOR, THE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS FOR DISTRICT 3 WERE NOT DONE.
>> OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS.
MY POINT BEING, THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN OUR ORDINANCES ON HOW WE APPOINT PEOPLE TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS ARE WISHING TO APPOINT.
I AM SAYING THAT THIS PROCESS WAS NOT RUN PROPERLY, AND I'M BRINGING THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS COMMISSION.
I'M SORRY. YOU CAN'T HEAR ME? WAS THAT WHAT I HEARD? [BACKGROUND] MY CONCERN IS THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR BOARDS WAS NOT DONE PER OUR CITY ORDINANCES AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE ISSUE WITH THIS ITEM BEING ON CONSENT AGENDA.
APPLICATIONS WERE NOT SOUGHT THROUGH PUBLIC NOTICE.
PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC WERE NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR ITEMS REVIEWED.
I UNDERSTAND WHATEVER REASONS THERE MAY BE FOR IT, IT WAS NOT DONE BY PROCEDURE.
IF WE WISH TO CHANGE THE PROCEDURE, THEN I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE DOING SO, IN DISCUSSING THIS MATTER AT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION ON HOW TO HANDLE APPOINTMENTS AT OUR BOARD IF WE WISH TO CHANGE OUR ORDINANCES, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD JUST BE CHANGING THE ORDINANCES WITHOUT PROPER PROCEDURE AND APPOINTING PEOPLE TO BOARDS.
THEREFORE, I HAVE PULLED IT, I HAVE MADE MY COMMENTS.
IT IS HOW I FEEL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPLY.
>> CAN WE TURN THE MICS OFF? [OVERLAPPING]
>> RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THIS COMMISSION TO PLEASE HELP ME, AND TURN YOUR MICROPHONES OFF, SO I CAN SEE AN ORDER IN WHICH YOU GUYS GO ON. HAPPY TO CALL YOU.
>> WHEN I WAS [OVERLAPPING] INAUGURATED, I ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY MANAGER, AND MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR BEST ADVICE ON ANY MATTER, ON EVERY MATTER.
I WAS ASKED, "WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE, OR DO YOU HAVE APPOINTEES?" I SAID I DID NOT HAVE APPOINTEES AT THAT TIME.
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WHICH WAS SEVERAL DAYS, I FOUND PEOPLE THAT FIT THOSE CRITERIA.
I ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER, HE REPEATED HIS STATEMENT, "YOU CAN ADVERTISE IT, OR YOU CAN APPOINT THEM." I SAID I WANT TO APPOINT THEM AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I MADE MY APPOINTMENTS BASED ON THOSE DECISIONS.
>> OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH, BUT I WANT IT ON THE RECORD.
>> I ONLY SPOKE TO THE CITY MANAGER.
>> OKAY. WELL, YOU SAID YOU SPOKE TO OTHERS, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
THAT'S FINE, THE MOTION'S ON THE TABLE.
>> OKAY. I ONLY SPOKE TO THE CITY MANAGER.
>> OTHERS WAS THE CITY STAFF BECAUSE THAT WAS ON EMAIL.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
AT THIS POINT, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. VICE MAYOR BOLTON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I DO APOLOGIZE.
I MISS IT. WE HAD A REGULAR ITEM HERE, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A QUICK ONE.
THIS IS ITEM 8A ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[8.a. TR13531 - Selection of the Vice Mayor]
THEN WE WILL TAKE A BREAK, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO WOODMONT.TR13531 SELECTION OF THE VICE MAYOR. CITY ATTORNEY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, ITEM 8ATR NUMBER 13531 SELECTION OF THE VICE MAYOR TO RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, ELECTED A VICE MAYOR TO SERVE A TERM BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 9,
[01:30:04]
2020, AND ENDING NOVEMBER OF 2020 WITH NO SUCCESSION PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEPARABILITY, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.IT IS A ITEM ON 8ATR13531 ON THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I MOVE, I OPEN THE FLOOR UP TO ANYBODY TO NOMINATE WHO THEY WISH TO BE VICE MAYOR.
I WILL WRITE, VICE MAYOR. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AS THE OUTGOING VICE MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC, I MUST SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE CITY'S VICE MAYOR.
THERE WERE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO ME, BESTOWED UPON ME THAT WAS TO PROVIDE MASKS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, AND NOT JUST FOCUS ON DISTRICT 1, BUT FOCUS ON THE ENTIRE CITY.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET RESIDENTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR WELCOMING ME AS THEIR VICE MAYOR.
EXCEPT FOR THE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE CALLED ME THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT, I'M NOT THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT.
I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO BE CALLED THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT IF HARRY DRESSLER WAS HERE, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR GRACIOUS SUPPORT AS YOUR VICE MAYOR FOR THE PAST YEAR.
WITH THAT SAID, I PUT IN NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR FOR ELVIN VILLALOBOS TO BE OUR NEXT VICE MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
I BELIEVE THAT HE WILL BE AN EXCELLENT LEADER.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS SKIPPED, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS UNDERVALUED, I THINK ELVIN VILLALOBOS HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS LEADERSHIP ABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY SO FAR.
HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE TO HAND OVER THE REIGNS OF VICE MAYOR TO.
IF THAT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, I'D LIKE SUPPORT FOR ELVIN VILLALOBOS TO BE OUR NEW VICE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATION.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO BE NOMINATED? SEEING THAT NO ONE ELSE WISHES TO BE NOMINATED, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WISH TO ACCEPT, IF SO APPROVED?
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE VICE MAYOR, BOLTON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS I HAVE, AND BEING AS ACTIVE AS COMMISSIONER BOLTON AND THE OTHERS, AND I WOULD ACCEPT.
>> OKAY. SEEING THAT THERE'S NOBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO PUT THEIR NOMINATION FORWARD, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> I NEED A SECOND. [BACKGROUND]
>> THAT'S TRUE. [OVERLAPPING] I NEED A SECOND.
>> THAT WAS COMMISSIONER GELIN?
>> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS?
>> MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, FIVE TO ZERO.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] YES, ON THIS, YOU CAN CLAP. IT IS 8:48.
SOME PEOPLE DO WISH TO HAVE A BREAK, I KNOW SOME OTHERS DO NOT, BUT FORGIVE ME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BREAK.
NINE O'CLOCK, WE WILL BE BACK HERE SHARP, AND WE WILL BRING FORTH THE QUASI JUDICIAL, AND DEAL WITH WOODMONT.
COMMISSION, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
[BACKGROUND] AS MUCH AS THIS NEXT COMMENT OF MINE PAINS ME TO DO THIS, I AM SO HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL ONLY TAKE TWO MINUTES OR LESS.
WE HAVE A MATTER BEFORE US THAT MUST BE DONE BEFORE
[8.c. TR13538 - Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER FY2019-2020)]
THE END OF THE YEAR FOR [INAUDIBLE] IN OUR RULES AND REQUIREMENTS SO WE CAN GET FUNDING FOR THINGS IN OUR CITY FOR HOME REPAIR AND THE LIKE.THEREFORE, 8C TR13538, CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORT.
[01:35:01]
CITY CLERK, PLEASE READ THE TITLE ON TO THE RECORD.I MEANT THE CITY ATTORNEY, SORRY I'M STARING AT YOU.
>> I'LL JUST TAKE A SIP OF MY WATER, I RAN. I'M OUT OF SHAPE.
>> YOU HAVE A QUORUM, MADAM MAYOR.
IF YOU WILL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO READ 8C.
>> TR13538, IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA APPROVING THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORT, THAT'S THE CAPE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019, 2020 WHICH IS ATTACHED HERE TO EXHIBIT A FOR THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S HUDS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG PROGRAMS FOR HUDS FISCAL YEAR 2019 TO 2020, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEPARABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STAFF HAS A PRESENTATION BUT IT CAN BE WAIVED UNLESS THIS COMMISSION NEEDS TO HAVE ONE.
THANK YOU. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I'VE GOT LIGHTS GOING UP, LIGHTS GOING DOWN.
>> WAIVING. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, FIVE TO ZERO.
>> THANK YOU AND NOW FOR THE MOMENT MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO 12, QUASI JUDICIAL HEARINGS,
[12.a. TBO39 - Woodmont Hotel - Special Exception]
[12.b. TR13380 - Woodmont Hotel - Major Revised Site Plan]
AND WE'RE TO ATBO39 WOODMONT HOTEL SPECIAL EXCEPTION.CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU WANT THIS READ INTO THE RECORD SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN VOTED ON SEPARATELY?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, IF I MAY I WOULD SUGGEST THAT 12A AND B ARE BOTH SEPARATE, HOWEVER THEY'RE JOINED LEGALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION.
IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME TO READ 12A AND B INTO THE RECORD, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT, AND THEN GIVE YOU THE RULES OF THE ROAD UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND THE PROCEDURES GOVERNING QUASI-JUDICIAL SO IT WILL ALLOW THE COMMISSIONER TO CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY OF THE EVIDENCE THAT'LL BE PRESENTED BEFORE YOU ON THE APPLICATIONS OF THE [NOISE] DEVELOPMENT. [NOISE]
>> SOUNDS GOOD. [NOISE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE READ BOTH ATBO39 AND TR13380.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
ITEM 12A REFERENCES ATBO39 AS THE WOODMONT HOTEL'S SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
IT'S A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL FOR THE WOODMONT HOTEL TO ALLOW FOR THE OPERATION OF A HOTEL AS AN ANCILLARY, USED TO A PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB IN THE S1 RECREATIONAL ZONING DISTRICT RESUME TO THE TAMARAC CODE OF ORDINANCES, IT WOULD RESULT IN AN ORDER WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF YOUR AGENDAS THIS EVENING.
ITEM 12B IS A RESOLUTION WHICH RELATES TO THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN, THAT'S TR13380, BOTH ARE BEING READ TO PUT THEM ON THE PUBLIC RECORD.
IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA GRANTING MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN APPROVAL, THAT'S WITH CONDITIONS TO ALLOW FOR THE HOTEL PARCEL APPROVAL OF PHASE 1 OF THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW FOUR STORY HOTEL CONTAINING 122 UNITS FOR THE SUBJECT PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7801 NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA REFERENCES PARCEL LAY OF WOODMONT RECREATION COMPLEX.
ACCORDING TO THE [INAUDIBLE] AS RECORDED IN BLACK BOOK 91 IN PAGE 49 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS, CASE NUMBER BEING CASE NUMBER 1-SP-19, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEPARABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BOTH ITEMS, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION, ARE BEING READ FOR THE RECORD, TO BE PLACED ON THE RECORD ON THE FLOOR FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMISSION.
IF YOU WILL, MAYOR AND COMMISSION, I'LL BE HAPPY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE QUASI JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AS TO HOW THEY WILL BE CONDUCTED THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU. THE PROCEEDINGS THIS EVENING ARE CONTROLLED BY AN ORDINANCE IN THE CITY, IT'S 2-367 WHICH IS THE QUASI JUDICIAL PROCEEDING MATTER.
FOR MOST MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, IT'S A FAMILIAR APPROACH.
YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE REGARDING SWORN TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE, AND THE PRESENTATION BY BOTH STAFF, APPLICANTS, AND THE PUBLIC.
IT IS THE INTENDED 2-367 AND FOLLOWING FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE AN EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT MANNER FOR THE CITY TO HEAR MATTERS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED WHAT'S CALLED QUASI JUDICIAL IN NATURE, AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW THOSE PROCEDURES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS BOARD.
THE RULES OF THE ROAD ESSENTIALLY ARE AS FOLLOWS: THE APPLICANT HAS FILED PAPERS WITH THE CITY AS YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING BOARD HAS REVIEWED THE MATTER AND HAS DISCUSSED THE ISSUE, AND HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
THE PURPOSES OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION, THE RULES OF QUASI JUDICIAL WOULD APPLY.
THE STAFF ESSENTIALLY WILL PRESENT THEIR TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE TO THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
THERE'LL BE A PRESENTATION BY MAXINE CALLOWAY, AND ANY OTHER PROFESSIONAL STAFF PERSON, OR OUTSIDE CONSULTANT ENGAGED BY THE CITY FOR THAT PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
THE APPLICANT WHO HAS FILED FOR THE HOTEL SITE WILL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
IN EACH INSTANCE, THE WITNESSES WILL BE SWORN.
THE CITY CLERK WILL SWEAR IN THE WITNESSES WHO WILL BE
[01:40:01]
TESTIFYING BEFORE THE COMMISSION THIS EVENING, WHO ARE OBLIGATED UNDER THE CITY CODE TO PRESENT BOTH SUBSTANTIAL AND COMPETENT EVIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF YOUR CONSIDERATION.THIS CITY COMMISSION HAS PROVIDED NOTICE OF THIS MEETING BOTH WHO PROVIDE FUNDAMENTAL AND PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS SO THAT THE STAFF WILL GO FIRST IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR PRESENTATION.
THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO PRESENT THEIR PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATIONS PENDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION WILL THEN TURN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PUBLIC HEARING AS THE CASE MAY BE, AND ALSO AFFECTED PARTIES AND AFFECTED PARTIES ARE THOSE PEOPLE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES THAT ARE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY LIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, AND THEY OTHERWISE BEEN INDIVIDUALLY NOTIFIED BY THE CITY UNDER THE PROCEEDINGS OF THIS ORDINANCE.
FOR THE CONSEQUENCE OF CONVERSATION, ONCE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN GIVEN A RIGHT TO BE HEARD, BEING GIVING SWORN TESTIMONY, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
COMMENTS, AS YOU KNOW, FROM AFFECTED PARTIES ARE LIMITED TO THE REASONABLENESS OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO PRESENT THEIR CASES BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND TO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO CROSS EXAMINATION BY THE PARTIES.
TO THE EXTENT ALSO THAT THERE ARE ANY EX-PARTE COMMUNICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BEFORE YOU BEGIN, YOU'LL ALL HAVE TO MAKE DISCLOSURES WITH REGARD TO ANY CONTACTS YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD WITH THE APPLICANT, THE APPLICANT'S CONSULTANTS, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY HAVE LOBBIED YOU IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS PROCEEDING ALSO UNDER THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES.
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, ONCE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO BE HEARD, AND THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO BE HEARD, AND THE AFFECTED PARTIES WILL BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BE HEARD, AND THE CITY HAS ANY CLOSING STATEMENT IT MAY MAKE THEM FOR THE PURPOSES OF PRESENTATION TO YOU.
ALL DOCUMENTS, RECORDS, AND MATERIALS THAT WERE OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING BOARD ARE ALSO BEFORE YOU WHICH MEANS ANY DOCUMENTS THAT THEY CONSIDERED ON THEIR SIDE ESSENTIALLY ARE BEING BEFORE YOU AS WELL.
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, YOU WILL BE LISTENING TO THE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY, MAKING A DECISION BASED UPON WHAT'S CALLED COMPETENT AND SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATIONS.
MAXINE CALLOWAY IS PREPARED TO MAKE HER PRESENTATION.
TO THAT EXTENT, I'M ASSUMING THAT THE APPLICANT IS PRESENT AND I WOULD LIKE, FOR THE RECORD, MADAM CLERK, IF WE CAN NOW KNOW WHO FROM THE STAFF WILL BE TESTIFYING BEFORE THE COMMISSION, I ASSUME MAXINE CALLOWAY ONLY OR IS THERE OTHERS?
>> IF IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SPEAK, IT'S MAXINE CALLOWAY FROM STAFF, [INAUDIBLE] IF NECESSARY, AND CARL PETERSON WHO IS ALSO HERE WHO IS OUR PEER REVIEWER AND OUR TRAFFIC CONSULTANT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAXINE.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECORD, IS THE APPLICANT PRESENT THIS EVENING? I KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT IN THE JURISDICTION AROUND THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM.
ARE THEY CURRENTLY ABLE TO BE HEARD AND SEEN AND WHO ARE THEY, FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU WILL?
>> YES, [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY.
>> YES. MY NAME IS KARIM ISMAIL.
I WILL BE LEADING THE PRESENTATION AND WITH ME ARE, AND I'LL ASK THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. MY NAME IS DAVID BERNARD, I'M WITH [INAUDIBLE] ARCHITECTS, WE'RE THE ARCHITECTS FOR THE JOB.
>> ANY OTHER ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT? MR. ISMAIL? ANYBODY ELSE?
>> YES, AND THIS IS JOHN LANCETS.
I'M WITH THE HVS, HOTEL CONSULTING AND VALUATION.
WE'RE A FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN HOTEL FEASIBILITY AND APPRAISALS.
>> NO OTHER SPEAKER ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT?
>> MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS, AFFECTED PARTIES WHO INTEND TO PRESENT TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE THIS EVENING, IF SO, IDENTIFY THEM SO THEY CAN BE SWORN.
WE'LL SWEAR EVERYBODY IN AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH WILL MAKE IT A LOT EASIER IN TIME.
AFFECTED PARTIES WOULD BE WHOM AND IF THEY ARE PRESENT, PLEASE IDENTIFY THEM.
>> SURE. WE HAVE THREE THAT ARE PRESENT, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, WE HAVE RUSSELL BARAKAT, CHRISTIE SIEBENS, AND MARILYN BROWN WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON AS AFFECTED PARTIES.
>> IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE COME OUT THIS EVENING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE PROJECT, THEY'LL BE SWORN AS WELL.
SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU DO IS THIS, WE'RE IN A VIRTUAL WORLD, SO WILL ALL STAFF MEMBERS WHO WILL BE OTHERWISE TESTIFYING THIS EVENING, AND THE APPLICANTS GROUP ALSO IDENTIFIED ON THE RECORD BY NAME ON THE SCREEN, THE AFFECTED PARTIES, AND ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO INTENDS TO BE HEARD THIS EVENING, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND BE SWORN BY THE CLERK.
>> ONE SECOND. BEFORE YOU DO, IS THERE ANYBODY STILL OUTSIDE? FOR THE MOMENT, LET THEM COME IN PLEASE SO THEY CAN BE SWORN AT ONE TIME.
[01:45:19]
THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, AND CITY CLERK, PLEASE PROCEED.>> THANK YOU. AS A NOTARY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
>> MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU WILL, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE QUASI-JUDICIAL ORDINANCE, WHICH IN THIS SITUATION WOULD BE SECTION 2-37, A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE RECORD JUST FOR HOUSEKEEPING PURPOSES, IF I MAY.
THE CITY AGAIN SHALL PRESENT ANY STAFF OR BOARD REPORTS OR ANY OTHER MATTER AS WELL AS ANY COMMENTS.
THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONER, AN ANALYSIS WHICH INCLUDES THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IF APPLICABLE, AND WHETHER THE PETITION DOES OR DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY'S CODE.
A LISTING ALSO OF THE EXHIBITS TO BE PRESENTED, A LISTING OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES WHICH ARE NOW SWORN UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CODE, SUMMARY OF THE ISSUES AND STAFF AND BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
THESE REPORTS SHALL INCLUDE ETC., THE SPECIFIC FINDINGS AND SUPPORTIVE JUSTIFYING A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THE PETITION.
THE PETITIONER OR HIS OR HER REPRESENTATIVE, AND THERE ARE FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN SWORN FOR THAT PURPOSE, MAY ALSO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
IF THE PETITIONER CHOOSES TO MAKE A PRESENTATION IT SHOULD INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE OF THE PETITION IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED TO OR BY THE CITY.
IN ADDITION THE PETITIONER SHALL ALSO INTRODUCE ANY OTHER EXHIBITS IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR PRESENTATION AFFECTING THE APPLICATION IN THEIR PETITION.
THERE'LL ALSO BE PARTIES WHO WILL BE IN SUPPORT, PARTIES WHO WILL BE IN OPPOSITION, AND THEN THOSE OF COURSE, THE AFFECTED PARTIES AS WELL.
ONCE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION WILL BE ABLE TO DELIBERATE BASED UPON THE COMPETENT AND SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE WHICH IT IS ADDUCED DURING THE COURSE OF THE PRESENTATION.
TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S A FINAL MOTION IT WILL BE AFFECTED SEPARATELY BY BOTH ITEMS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE BOARD ORDER, THE COMMISSION'S ORDER WITH REGARD TO THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, AND THE SITE PLAN AS WELL.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS YOU PROCEED, BUT NOW YOU HAVE JOINED THE PARTIES.
MS. CALLOWAY IS AVAILABLE TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION, OFFER UP A POWERPOINT, AND THEN TO SUPPORT THROUGH SUBSTANTIAL AND COMPETENT EVIDENCE THE STAFF'S POSITION AND RECOMMENDATION BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION AND UNDER THE CODE AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO JUST GO THROUGH THE OUTLINE ONE MORE TIME AND MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
WE WILL THEN HAVE STAFF DO ITS PRESENTATION, APPLICANT ITS PRESENTATION.
WE WILL THEN OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL GO FOR AFFECTED PARTIES FIRST.
I BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE ARE NOW INSIDE, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT WARMER INSIDE.
WE WILL THEN GO THROUGH E-MAILS AND PHONE LOGS, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE COMMISSION FOR DISCUSSION, AND THEN IT WILL BE PUT FOR A MOTION OR NOT, CORRECT? THE MOTION SHALL BE LAST.
>> TO THE EXTENT OF THE PUBLIC, HEARING IS CLOSED AND ALL THE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN ADDUCED, AND THE COMMISSION BY MOTION MUST MAKE APPROPRIATE POINTS OF REFERENCE TO MAKE A DISCUSSION AND DECISION BASED UPON BOTH ITEMS AND MUST MAKE FINDINGS WITH REGARD TO THE BASIS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND REVIEW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ONE MORE HOUSEKEEPING ITEM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT, THEY'LL BE HAPPY, THEY WILL NOT BE HAPPY.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE TRY TO KEEP OUR COMMENTS TO OURSELVES.
IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHEER, PLEASE SNAP.
WE WILL TRY TO MOVE THIS ALONG AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE CALLED, AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU MAY JUST WANT TO SAY IN SUPPORT OR NOT IN SUPPORT.
THIS WAY, YOU COULD JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, AND THIS WAY WE CAN MARK YOU OFF THAT YOU WERE HERE AND THAT YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, YOU WILL COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM OVER HERE.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I CAN'T GIVE MY THREE MINUTES TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
EVERYBODY HAS AROUND THREE MINUTES.
YES, WE HAVE A 30-MINUTE TIMELINE ON THIS.
HOWEVER, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS HEARD.
WE ALSO DO HAVE A CLOSING TIME OF 11:30, BUT THE COMMISSION CAN DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL EXTEND.
WE MAY OR MAY NOT NEED ALL THAT TIME ANYWAY.
THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOW GO DOWN THE LINE.
VICE MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCLOSURES?
>> NO DISCLOSURES, I DO NOT MEET WITH LOBBYISTS.
>> MY APOLOGIES ACTUALLY, VICE MAYOR VILLALOBOS?
>> YES, I HAD A TELEPHONE OR A VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH KARIM ISMAIL.
I ALSO WATCHED THE VIDEO THAT WAS SENT TO ME BY ONE OF THE WOODMONT RESIDENTS,
[01:50:02]
AND I WATCHED THE NEWS, WSVN 7 COVERAGE OF THIS ON YESTERDAY.>> VICE MAYOR, YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> ARE WE TO DISCLOSE WHEN WE MEET WITH RESIDENTS?
I BELIEVE IT'S TECHNICALLY FOR LOBBYISTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. THANK YOU.
>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE DEFINITION IS AS IS.
AS FOR MYSELF, I DID HAVE A VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH KARIM, ISHMAEL AND FORGIVE ME, I AM BLANKING RIGHT NOW, WITH HIS PARTNER.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THE SAME LINE, BUT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, REGARDING A DIFFERENT MATTER, THERE WAS A MEETING WITH MARK SCHMIDT, EXCUSE ME.
THE TOPIC OF THE HOTEL CAME UP, AND SO THEREFORE I DISCLOSED THAT, AND YES, THERE HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT.
BUT THEY ARE NOT DEFINED AS THE LOBBYIST.
THAT BEING SAID, WE SHALL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR STAFF PRESENTATION. DIRECTOR CALLAWAY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, GOOD EVENING TO YOU ALL.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THIS EVENING I WILL BE PRESENTING BOTH ITEMS WITH SPECIAL EXCEPTION AS WELL AS THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN FOR THE WOODMONT-PROPOSED HOTEL.
NEXT SLIDE, AS MENTIONED AS A PART OF THE TITLES, TONIGHT'S REQUEST IS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, A MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN FOR THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB PROPERTY.
WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS A NEW FOUR-STORY HOTEL COMPRISE OF 122 UNITS FOR A FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF COMMERCIAL, AND A CURRENT ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF RC.
ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HAS A PROPERTY ZONE S-1 AND COMMISSION DISTRICT FOUR, WHICH IS COMMISSIONER DEBORAH PLACKO'S DISTRICT.
[NOISE] THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE AND NORTHWEST 75TH STREET AT 7801 NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE.
THE PROPOSED HOTEL WILL BE ADDRESSED AS 7771 NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE, SHOULD IT BE APPROVED.
THE PROPERTY IS 13.47 NET ACRES IN SIZE.
IT HAS A CURRENT CITY OF TAMARAC FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF COMMERCIAL RECREATION, AND A CURRENT ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF RC.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. JUST SOME BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION AS TO HOW WE HAVE GOTTEN HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS PROPERTY OR THIS PROJECT SINCE 2014.
JUST SOME EVENTS THAT HAS OCCURRED, SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT HAS LED US TO TONIGHT.
IN JUNE 25TH, 2014, WE APPROVED THE LAND USE AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWED US TO CHANGE SIX PARCELS FROM COMMERCIAL RECREATION TO LOW RESIDENTIAL AND THEN WE CHANGED LAND USE DESIGNATION ON ONE PARCEL FROM COMMERCIAL RECREATION TO COMMERCIAL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ON JUNE 25TH, WE DID A REZONING AS WELL.
WE APPROVED SIX PARCELS FROM THE S-1, WHICH IS A RECREATIONAL ZONING DISTRICT, TO A SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, WHICH IS YOUR R-1 DISTRICT.
WE ALSO REZONED THAT ONE COMMERCIAL LAND-USE PARCEL FROM S-1 TO B-2, WHICH IS YOUR PLANNED COMMUNITY DISTRICT.
IN 2014 JULY, WE APPROVED A CONSOLIDATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED COVENANT, WHICH FOR THE MOST PART HELD THE REMAINING GOLF COURSE PROPERTY UNDER A COVENANT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS FOR THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB.
THEN FOLLOWING THAT, ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2015, WE WENT AHEAD AND APPROVED THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY CLUB FACILITY, AS WELL AS THE CART BARN, ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED PARKING AND LANDSCAPING FOR THAT PROJECT.
JANUARY 2017, THAT'S WHEN PULTE CAME ON THE SCENE.
THEY WERE ADDED AS A PARTY TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SO THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED AND AMENDED AND RESTATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THAT AGREEMENT BECAME A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN PULTE, THE CITY AND WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE WOODMONT FLAT.
THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT, IN FEBRUARY 2017, WE WENT AHEAD AND APPROVED THE SITE PLAN FOR THE NEW GOLF COURSE AS WELL, AND THE OPERA RANGE AND THE DRIVING WAGE, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPING AND PARKING.
WE ALSO APPROVED THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING AS A PART OF THAT MEETING.
THEN ON APRIL 26TH, 2017, THAT'S WHEN WE APPROVED THE PLAT AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, FOR 152 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND THE ASSOCIATED PLAT FOR THAT PROJECT.
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SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND. NEXT SLIDE.THIS PROJECT IS A PART OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO FLORIDA STATUTES 163322021633243, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS THAT DEVELOPMENT ITSELF IS SUBJECT TO THE REGULATIONS AT THE TIME THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED.
OUR CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR THESE PROCEEDINGS TONIGHT OR FOR THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT IS APPLICABLE IS THE OLD CODE, WHICH IS CHAPTER 24, WHICH WAS REPEALED WITH THE NEW CODE.
THAT'S THE PROVISION THAT WAS APPLIED TO THIS SITE PLAN AND THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
UNDER THE OLD CODE AS WELL AS THE NEW CODE, A HOTEL IS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE, WHICH IS ANCILLARY OR INCIDENTAL TO A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB, THROUGH SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL AND THEN FOR THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN. NEXT SLIDE.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE HOTEL IS A PERMITTED USE IN THE S-1 ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE DISTRICT UNDER WHICH A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT APPROVED THE MASTER PLAN PROJECT.
IT'S PERMITTED AS AN INCIDENTAL USE TO A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB THROUGH A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
JUST SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS.
IT'S REALLY A PERMITTED USE THAT IS PERMITTED IN THAT RESPECTED ZONING DISTRICT THAT REQUIRES INDIVIDUALIZED REVIEW DUE TO THE POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL OR CUMULATIVE IMPACTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE ON A SURROUNDING AREA OR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE USE PERMITTED BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE CITY.
THE REVIEW PROCESS ALLOWS THE IMPOSITION OF CONDITIONS TO MITIGATE IDENTIFIED CONCERNS OR TO DENY THE USE IF THE CONCERNS CANNOT BE RESOLVED.
NEXT SLIDE. THERE WERE SIX STANDARDS THAT WERE APPLIED TO THIS APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION, AS MENTIONED, THOSE STANDARDS CAME FROM CHAPTER 24, WHICH IS OUR OLD CODE.
WE ALSO APPLIED THE NEW STANDARDS AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE A LOT SIMILAR TO THE OLD STANDARD AND BASED ON THE MEMORANDUM THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR BACKUP, STAFF IS FOUND BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS, THAT THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THESE SIX CRITERIA WERE MET BY THE APPLICANT AND WERE MET BY THE APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY. NEXT SLIDE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. MOVING ONTO THE SITE PLAN, IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION THAT'S BEFORE YOU, THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUESTING A MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOME 2 SUITE BY HILTON HOTEL, AND THIS IS ALL-SUITES EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL WHICH IS FEATURING CONTEMPORARY ACCOMMODATIONS AND CUSTOMIZABLE GUEST ROOM DESIGN.
NEXT SLIDE. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU REAL QUICK BECAUSE THIS BRINGS US BACK TO 2016 JUST AS A REMINDER THAT IN MAY 11, 2016, THE CITY WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE ADOPTED STRINGENT REGULATIONS THAT WOULD CONTROL THE PERFORMANCE AND THE DESIGN OF HOTEL BUILDINGS INTO S-1 ZONING DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT RC ZONING DISTRICT.
BACK IN 2016, WE ADOPTED AND ESTABLISHED SIGNIFICANT DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR NEW HOTELS IN THE CITY.
THESE HOTELS MUST BE INCIDENTAL TO A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB PROPERTY OR USE.
THOSE 2016 REGULATIONS WERE CARRIED OVER AND FURTHER ENHANCED AS A PART OF THE 2018 CODE RE-WRITE THAT WE DID, AND THEY ARE NOW IN PLACE IN THE RC ZONING DISTRICT.
NEXT SLIDE. SOME OF THOSE STRINGENT STANDARDS INCLUDE, AND THIS WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ADOPTING PROVISIONS THAT WOULD GIVE US HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCT THAT WOULD NOT BE CONVERTED INTO A CONDOMINIUM OR INTO A MOTEL TYPE OF USE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE STANDARDS THAT WE INCORPORATED IN 2016 AND CARRIED OVER INTO 2018; THAT ALL GUEST ROOMS SHALL BE ACCESSED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE STRUCTURE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT GUEST ROOMS WITHIN THE HOTEL WOULD NOT BE UNDER SEPARATE OWNERSHIP AND WOULD NOT BE ASSIGNED BY LEASE AGREEMENT OR SIMILAR INSTRUMENT, AND THIS IS TO AVOID THE CONVERGENT INTO A CONDOMINIUM-TYPE USE.
WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HOTEL WOULD HAVE, AT A MINIMUM, CENTRAL SWITCH BOARD, PROVIDE DAILY CLEANING SERVICE, HAVE A REGULAR STAFF CONCIERGE SERVICE, A PORTER SERVICE AND VALET PARKING, THAT THE STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE AN ELEVATOR AND NOT JUST BE ALL STAIRWELL.
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WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS ACCESSORY AND LOCATED WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF A PRIMARY USE BAR FULL SERVICE, AND THIS IS THE CLUBHOUSE FACILITY THAT NEEDED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE AMENITIES.ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES WERE CARRIED OVER IN THIS APPLICATION, AND AS YOU WILL SEE DURING THE PRESENTATION, HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT AS A PART OF THIS PROPOSED HOTEL.
NEXT SLIDE. IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH QUANTITY DESIGN, THE PROPOSED HOTEL WILL ALSO CONTAIN A LARGE GATHERING AREA ADJACENT TO THE HOTEL LOBBY.
THIS IS THE FLOOR PLAN THAT SHOWS THAT THE LARGE GATHERING AREA, WHICH YOU WILL SEE IN YELLOW TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN, WILL ALSO HAVE A FITNESS ROOM, A BREAKFAST AREA, CORNER MARKET, PATIO LOUNGE, INDOOR POOL, AND THEN A POOL PATIO AREA.
NEXT SLIDE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND CONSISTENT WITH THE CODE REQUIREMENTS, THE CODE REQUIRES THAT THIS BE INCIDENTAL TO A CLUBHOUSE FACILITY AND THAT CERTAIN AMENITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY THAT CLUBHOUSE.
THE CLUBHOUSE WILL SUPPORT THE HOTEL WITH OUTDOOR POOL AREA, WITH THE RESTAURANT AND BAR, BANQUET, MEETING AND CONFERENCE ROOM, AS WELL AS A FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT AND A GIFT SHOP.
NEXT SLIDE. IN TERMS OF THE CIRCULATION AND PARKING, THE RED SHOWS AT THE VERY BOTTOM WHERE YOU SEE NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE AND THE RED ARROW THAT'S SHOWING THE ACCESS WHICH WOULD BE PROVIDED BY SHARED 2 LANE INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE.
THAT ACCESS WILL BE DIVIDED BY A MEDIAN WITH SUFFICIENT LANDSCAPING.
AS THE AXIS ALSO ALLOWS FOR FULL TURNING MOVEMENT ONTO NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING, YOU CAN HAVE FULL TURNING MOVEMENT, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING LEFT OR YOU'RE GOING RIGHT.
A PORTE-COCHERE IS PROVIDED IN THE FRONT OF THE HOTEL TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS, AND SIDEWALKS, WHICH ARE THE GREEN ARROWS THAT YOU SEE FROM NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE WITH ONE LEADING DIRECTLY TO THE HOTEL IS ALSO PROVIDED, SO THOSE ARE THE GREEN ARROWS THAT YOU SEE ON THE SITE PLAN.
NEXT SLIDE. RELATIVE TO PARKING, EXISTING PARKING AREAS WILL BE IMPROVED AROUND THE NEW CLUBHOUSE.
THIS ACTIVE SPACES WOULD BE ADDED TO SUPPORT THE HOTEL; A 122 ADDITIONAL SPACES, A TOTAL OF 331 PARKING SPACES ARE BEING PROPOSED, WHERE A TOTAL OF 331 PARKING SPACES ARE BEING ACQUIRED BY CODE, AND THESE TOTAL SPACES WILL SUPPORT THE HOTEL, THE CLUBHOUSE, AND GOLF COURSE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE FIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING SPACES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED AS A PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. NEXT SLIDE.
CONSISTENT WITH EVERY MAJOR SITE PLAN THAT WE BRING BEFORE YOU, WE DO ASK THE APPLICANT TO PREPARE A TRAFFIC REPORT OR A TRAFFIC STUDY, WHICH WAS DONE BY THE APPLICANT AND PREPARED BY DC ENGINEERS INC.
THAT REPORT WAS ALSO REVIEWED BY THE CITY'S CONSULTANT AND PEER REVIEWER, WHO IS ALSO HERE TONIGHT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
BASED ON THAT TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROPOSED HOTEL WILL GENERATE 441 VEHICLE TRIPS PER DAY, WHICH IS 35 TRIPS AM PEAK HOUR, WHICH IS 19 INBOUND AND 16 OUTBOUND, 43 TRIPS PM PEAK HOUR, WHICH IS 21 INBOUND AND 22 OUTBOUND, AND 49 TRIPS SATURDAY PEAK HOUR.
ALL IN ALL, THE INTERSECTIONS THAT WERE STUDIED SHOWED THAT THE HOTEL WOULD OPERATE WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE PARAMETER TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE, WITH OR WITHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOTEL.
NEXT SLIDE. OUR PEER REVIEWER REVIEWED THE STUDY AND FOUND THAT THE PARAMETERS WERE ACCEPTABLE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVED TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY METHODOLOGY AND FOUND TWO COMMENTS OR OBSERVATIONS WHICH ARE LISTED ON THE SLIDE.
BUT EACH SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS WITHIN THE PROJECT STUDY AREA ARE PROJECTED TO OPERATE AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE BUILDOUT YEAR OF 2021, AND THAT EACH OF THE UNSIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS AND THE PROJECT DRIVEWAY ARE PROJECTED TO OPERATE AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE BUILDOUT YEAR OF 2021.
NEXT SLIDE. RELATIVE TO LANDSCAPE, THE PROJECT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LANDSCAPE WITH A 112 TREES CONSISTING OF 69 SHADE TREES, 11 PALM TREES, 32 SMALL TREES WILL ALSO BE ADDED TO THE COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA AROUND THE HOTEL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, A TOTAL OF 408 TREES WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT.
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IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WILL BE 1,900 SHRUBS IN THE AREA AROUND THE HOTEL.SOME OF THE TREES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE ARE [INAUDIBLE] YOUR QUEEN CREEK, [INAUDIBLE] , MAHOGANY, AND A SERIES OF PALMS, INCLUDING YOUR ROYAL AND CABBAGE PALMS. NEXT SLIDE. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND THE ELEVATIONS.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE RESIDENTIAL LOOK AND FEEL OF THE AREA.
THERE WERE SEVEN DIFFERENT ARCHITECTURAL ELEVATIONS THAT WERE PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REVIEW OF THIS HOTEL DEVELOPMENT; THREE OF WHICH WE REVIEWED BY WERE REVIEWED BY THE CITY'S ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANTS, CPZ ARCHITECTS.
WE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT HAD A FEEL.
IT WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THE RESIDENTIAL FEEL OF THE AREA, AND SO WE ASKED THE APPLICANT TO ENHANCE AND RESUBMIT.
GREAT LENGTHS WERE TAKEN IN THE REVIEW PROCESS TO CREATE A BUILDING DESIGN THAT IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPOSED HOTEL WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AND SO THIS IS A SECOND ITERATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO STAFF, AND WE DID THINK THAT THIS WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
AFTER THIS SOME MIDDLE, WE STILL DIDN'T THINK THAT IT MET WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, WAS NOT AS COMPATIBLE AS WE WERE HOPING TO ACHIEVE.
WE WANTED TO OBTAIN A MORE RESIDENTIAL FIELD.
WITNESSED SOME MIDDLE, WE THOUGHT WE WERE ALMOST THERE WITH THIS FOR SOME MIDDLE.
THIS WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SOME GABLED ROOF ELEMENTS THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THIS ELEVATION.
SOME OVERHANDS WITH THE DECORATIVE BRACKETS, ROUND LEVERED TRUCK, TRELLIS STRUCTURE ALONG OUTSIDE PATIO AREA.
WE INCORPORATED SOME STONE VENEER WHICH WAS APPLIED TO THE FACADE.
ALL THE MECHANIC EQUIPMENT ARE GOING TO BE SCREENED OF COURSE.THE HOTEL HEIGHT WAS REDUCED TO FOUR FLOORS, 56 FEET AND ONE AND ONE HALF INCH, WHICH IS MEASURED TO THE MIDPOINT OF THE GABLE ROOFS AND 60 FEET IN HEIGHT, THE TOP OF THE GABLE ROOF.
THEY'RE A MAXIMUM OF SIXTY FEET IS ALLOWED INTO S1 ZONING DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT IS NOT ASKING FOR VARIANCE TO PROPOSED HEIGHTS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CODE, AND I FELT THAT WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS NEW DESIGN AND THE COMPATIBILITY WITH THE BUILT IN EXISTING ENVIRONMENT.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE LAST SUBMISSION WE RECEIVED, AND IN THIS SUBMISSION, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S SUFFICIENTLY HIDES THIS ILLUMINATED, TRANSPARENT, AND BRANDED GLASS ROOF FEATURE, WHICH IS A SIGNATURE OF THE HOME2 SUITES HOTEL BRAND.
THIS IS TYPICALLY PLACED ON TOP OF THE BUILDING, BUT IN THIS DESIGN, WE HAD IT PLACED UNDER THE GABLE ROOF TO CONCEAL THIS FEATURE AND TO INCORPORATE A MORE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE ILLUMINATED TRANSPARENT BRANDED GLASS THAT I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE THOUGHT IT GETS STUCK OUT THIS WAY THAT IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH A RESIDENTIAL FIELD.
SO WE HAD THEM TUCKED IN UNDER THE GABLE ROOF JUST TO CONCEAL THAT AND TO AFFORD FOUR MORE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE FINAL DESIGN THAT STAFF HAS AND THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT.
AS I SAID, WE WENT THROUGH SOME ITERATIONS TO GET TO THIS DESIGN WHICH WE BELIEVE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE RESIDENTIAL FEEL OF THE AREA.
NEXT SLIDE. SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT STAFF HAS RECEIVED TODAY RELATIVE TO THIS PROJECT.
WE HAD THE APPLICANT NOTICED THE ENTIRE WOODMONT COMMUNITY.
WHAT IS TYPICALLY REQUIRED IS NOTICE FROM THE PROPERTY TO 400 FEET AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A MASTER PLAN PROJECT, WE HAD THE APPLICANT NOTICE THE ENTIRE WOODMONT COMMUNITY, WHICH COMPRISE OF 2,769 PROPERTIES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE RECEIVED THIS UPDATED INFORMATION FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, 118 SIGNATURES WE RECEIVE FROM RUSSEL BARAKAT , WHO IS ALSO AN AFFECTED PARTY TONIGHT.
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WE ALSO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 70 SIGNATURES OF OPPOSITION FROM WOODMONT RESIDENTS AND ANOTHER 44 SIGNATURES WHICH IS PETITION TO OPPOSING THE PROJECT FROM SOME ADDITIONAL WOODMONT RESIDENTS.WE ALSO RECEIVED PETITIONS 80 SIGNATURES FROM MARK SCHMIDT AND THOSE SIGNATURES ARE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT, AND WE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 71 E-MAILS OPPOSING THE PROJECT AND THEN ADDITIONAL EIGHT E-MAILS IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ALSO, AT THE PANEL BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION RELATIVE TO CRIME IN THE AREA, AND SO WE ASKED VSO TO PROVIDE SOME STATISTICS FOR US AND THEY SENT OVER, WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT, WHICH SPEAKS TO THE CRIME ANALYSIS THAT WAS DONE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHICH SHOWS A REDUCTION IN CRIME IN THE AREA.
SO WE JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT, WHICH WE EXPECT TO BE MAINTAINED TO THE HOTEL GROUP. NEXT SLIDE.
IT'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY STRATEGIC GOALS, PARTICULARLY GOAL NUMBER 4 WHICH SPEAKS TO TAMARAC BEING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
IT STOPS [INAUDIBLE] THAT THE REDEVELOP CONTRACT LAW WITH AN ACTIVE, HEALTHY, AND FUN LIFESTYLE AND FEATURE ON NEW AMENITIES IS A GOOD ENHANCEMENTS FOR THAT AREA AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IS CONSISTENT WITH POLICY 1.4 OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND ALSO BEATS THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND CRITERIA AS ESTABLISHED BY THE CODE.
SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF BOTH A SPECIAL EXCEPTION AS WELL AS THE SITE ONE. NEXT SLIDE.
IT WAS HEARD BY THE PLANNING BOARD AT THEIR NOVEMBER FOURTH MEETING AND THE PLANNING BOARD ALSO SUBMITTED A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL FOR THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN AT A VOTE OF THREE TO TWO AND THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AT A VOTE FOR FOUR TO ONE.
NEXT SLIDE. ONCE AGAIN, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL EXCEPTION SUBJECT TO THESE THREE CONDITIONS THAT IS INCORPORATED IN YOUR MEMORANDUM AND LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.
NEXT SLIDE. RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL FOR THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN FOR A NEW FOUR-STORY HOTEL CONTAINED IN A 122 UNITS, SUBJECT 8 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL AS LISTED IN YOUR MEMORANDUM AND SEEING ON THIS SLIDE TONIGHT THAT WE'D LIKE TO ENTER INTO EVIDENCE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
THE APPLICANT ALSO HAS A PRESENTATION FOR YOU TONIGHT AND STAFF IS AVAILABLE AFTER THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE STAFF HAS MADE A PRESENTATION WITH A POWERPOINT, I'M SURE THAT MISS CALLOWAY IS OFFERING THAT UP AS PART OF THE STAFF'S EXHIBIT FOR THE CONSIDERATION BY THE [INAUDIBLE] COMMISSION. CORRECT, MS. CALLOWAY?
>> THANK YOU. THAT SHOULD BE EXHIBITED AND TAG BY THE CLERK FOR THAT PURPOSE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ASK THE APPLICANT TO MAKE HIS PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE ME ALL RIGHT? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAXINE, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS KARIM ISMAIL, I'M THE CO-MANAGER OF THE PROPOSED HOTEL DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS EXCITING PROJECT.
AT A TIME WHEN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS FACING A TSUNAMI IN THE FORM OF COVID-19, THE FACT THAT WE ARE KEEN TO MOVE AHEAD IS INDICATIVE OF OUR BELIEF THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY IN TAMARAC, BUT ALSO HAVING THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE FINANCIALLY VIABLE.
I'M PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL AND PRESENT REMOTELY GIVEN COVID-19 AND RESTRICTIONS.
I'M PLEASED THAT DAVID BERNARD, PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT ON THIS PROJECT, AND JOHN LANCET WITH HVS IS ABLE TO JOIN US AS WELL.
WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM STAFF WHO HAVE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AS WELL AS THE MAJOR SITE APPROVAL.
FINALLY, WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD WITH STAFF NOT TO HAVE ANY VARIANCES THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, SO WE'RE NOT REQUESTING ANY VARIANCES.
WE HAVE 79 PETITIONS RECEIVED OR 80.
WONDER WHETHER THOSE ARE ALREADY ENTERED INTO THE RECORD OR WHETHER I NEED TO MAKE A REQUEST TO ENTER THEM INTO THE RECORD.
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>> IF I MAY SAY, ATTORNEY, PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THAT WAS PART OF DR. CALLOWAY PRESENTATION AND THEREFORE DOES NOT NEED TO BE ENTERED HERE.
>> [FOREIGN] IF THEY'RE [INAUDIBLE] ISSUE, THEY WERE ATTACHED TO HER PRESENTATION.
THE ANSWER IS THEY'RE PART OF THE PRESENTATION, A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS FIRSTLY, THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN APPLICATION BRIEFLY, AND THEN FOCUS ON THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION JUSTIFICATION AND SHOW HOW WE MEET, AND FRANKLY EXCEED THE SIX REQUIREMENTS WE ARE REQUIRED TO MEET.
I WILL ALSO ALONG THE WAY, ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS ALREADY EXPRESSED TO US BY OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY'S WISHES SO THAT WE ARE A GOOD NEIGHBOR FROM THE GET-GO.
FINALLY, I'LL END WITH JUST OUTLINING THE BENEFITS WE SEE TO THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY IN TAMARAC FOR THIS PROJECT, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, OF COURSE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TWO POINTS I'D LIKE TO MAKE.
THIS IS THE FINAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHASE 1 ALREADY APPROVED COUNTRY CLUB PROJECT.
THE COUNTRY CLUB IS ALREADY CONSTRUCTED AND AS THE ASSOCIATED CART BARN, PARKING LOT, AND LANDSCAPING, AND THAT THE HOTEL IS PERMITTED AS AN ANCILLARY USE TO A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB.
GIVEN THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL, WHICH I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS A FULL STORY, 122 ROOM HOTEL.
IT ACTUALLY WAS 127 ROOMS, BUT WE REDUCED THE HEIGHT DOWN TO HAVE LESS OF AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS HILTON'S MOST SUCCESSFUL BRAND EVER IN THE HISTORY, WITH 400 HOTELS PRIMARILY IN THE US OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS AND ANOTHER 300 IN THE PIPELINE.
WE CHOSE THIS BRAND AND THIS PARTICULAR FLAG VERY CAREFULLY.
THAT'S JUST A VIEW FROM THE STREET, A VIEW OF THE LATEST DESIGN.
I HAD ACTUALLY QUITE FRANKLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT SOME OF THE ITERATIONS WE WENT THROUGH, BUT MAXINE, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
WE DID GO THROUGH MANY ITERATIONS SO THAT WE CAME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT FIT IN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FIT IN WITH THE COUNTRY CLUB.
I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO CONVINCE HILTON TO SHIFT AWAY FROM WHAT THEY NORMALLY EXPECT, BUT THEY DID LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY AND MADE MANY CONCESSIONS THEY NORMALLY DON'T MAKE.
JUST VERY QUICKLY TO GIVE YOU A FEEL FOR THE PROJECT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE EMOTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT THIS IS TYPICALLY AN OUTDOOR AREA.
HOTEL PROVIDES EXPANDED COMMUNITY SPACE CALLED THE OASIS, THAT PROVIDES COMMON AREAS FOR SOCIAL GATHERING AS WELL AS FOR COMMUNAL AND INDIVIDUALS WORK AND MEETING ZONES.
THIS IS ANOTHER VIEW, ANOTHER TIME OF OASIS.
THEN, WITHIN THE OASIS THERE IS A HOME TO MARKET, PRIMARILY USED FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE CLUBHOUSE, AND A RESTAURANT THERE, SO THE GUESTS CAN ACCESS THAT.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL ROOM.
HILTON HAS A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY, WHETHER IT'S RECYCLED MATERIALS OR REUSABLES OR LANDSCAPING THAT USES INDIGENOUS PLANTS ONLY AND WHICH USES VERY LITTLE WATER USAGE.
WE WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTING THE BUILDING TO A HIGH LEVEL OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
WE THINK THAT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO GIVEN CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR PARK THERE.
AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER VIEW OF WHAT THE HOTEL ROOM COULD LOOK LIKE.
IT WILL HAVE ALL OF THE AMENITIES, I WON'T GO OVER THEM AGAIN BECAUSE MAXINE HAS DONE THAT.
BUT ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT ARE REQUIRED LIKE A SWITCHBOARD, [INAUDIBLE] CLEANING VALET, ETC.
GUEST WILL HAVE ACCESS BOTH TO AN INDOOR POOL.
THAT'S AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO A SHARED POOL WITH THE CLUBHOUSE AND OF COURSE ACCESS TO THE CLUBHOUSE AMENITIES, REDUCED ACCESS TO GOLF COURSE AND TENNIS COURTS.
THE CLUBHOUSE PROVIDES ALL THE AMENITIES, THAT AGAIN MAXINE HAS GONE OVER.
I'LL JUST SUMMARIZE TO SAY ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT THE LEGISLATION
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REQUIRES TO HAVE ARE EITHER IN THE HOTEL OR THEY'RE IN THE CLUBHOUSE.WE HAVE AVOIDED DUPLICATION BECAUSE IT [INAUDIBLE] MAKE SENSE FOR DUPLICATION.
THE PLACEMENT OF THE HOTEL IS NEXT TO THE CLUBHOUSE SO THAT THERE IS EASY ACCESS.
I'M GOING TO ASK JOHN LANCET, [OVERLAPPING] JOHN IF YOU'LL SPEAK ABOUT THE HILTON BRAND AND THE HOME 2 SUITES, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> SURE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT HILTON IS ONE OF THE LEADING HOTEL COMPANIES IN THE WORLD.
IT'S A VERY STRONG HOTEL COMPANY AND HAS A SOLID LOYALTY MEMBER BASE OF ABOUT 110 MILLION PEOPLE AS PART OF THEIR HILTON HONORS PROGRAM.
THAT BENEFITS HOTEL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND WOULD BENEFIT THIS HOTEL.
HILTON HAS GOT A VARIETY OF AWARD-WINNING BRANDS THAT SERVE GUESTS FOR VIRTUALLY ANY LODGING NEED THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
THIS PARTICULAR BRAND, THE HOME 2 SUITES, IS AN ALL-SUITE AND EXTENDED STAY BRAND.
IT FALLS UNDER A SIMILAR UMBRELLA TO GIVE YOU A FEEL OF THE OTHER ALL-SUITE HILTON BRANDS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IT FALLS IN THE SAME FAMILY AS EMBASSY SUITES OR THEIR HOMEWOOD SUITES PROPERTY.
BUT THE HOME 2 SUITE IS AN ALL-SUITE, WHICH GIVES IT A GREAT PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION AND ALLOWS IT TO PERFORM WELL.
IT ALSO ATTRACTS THE EXTENDED-STAY MARKET, WHICH TYPICALLY STAYS FIVE NIGHTS OR MORE.
THE HOME 2 SUITE HAS BEEN A MULTIPLE AWARD WINNER AND AS I INDICATED, IT HAS BEEN THE FASTEST-GROWING IN A HOTEL.
SWITCHING NOW TO THE SIX SPECIAL EXCEPTION CONDITIONS.
AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO THE FIRST PART, I WILL SKIP READING.
I'LL ADDRESS THE FIRST PART AND THEN ASK IN A MINUTE, DAVID BERNARD TO SPEAK ABOUT THE LANDSCAPING AND ARCHITECTURE.
BUT REALLY, THERE ARE FIVE WAYS WE MEET THIS CONDITION.
FROM BEING ON THE SAME PROPERTY TO THE LANDSCAPE TO THE ARCHITECTURE WHICH YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ALREADY.
THAT SYNERGY BETWEEN THE USES AND ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE TENNIS COURTS AND GOLF COURSE.
ONE SECOND. THE HOTEL IS ON THE SAME PROPERTY, SO JUST TO SITUATE.
CAN YOU SEE MY MOUSE, MY CURSOR?
>> THE HOTEL'S PARKING LOT IS HERE, THAT'S 80TH STREET.
THIS IS THE PARKING LOT FOR THE CLUBHOUSE, WHICH WE CAN SHARE AS WELL.
THE CLUBHOUSE, THE HOTEL HERE, THE TENNIS COURTS.
THERE ARE SOME TENNIS COURTS THAT WE WILL BE GETTING RID OF, AND YOU HAVE THE GOLF COURSE LOCATED RIGHT THERE.
NEW POLITY HOMES EVENTUALLY WILL GO HERE.
THESE ARE THE HOMES IN THE FOREFRONT AT BONAIRE AND THEN OTHER HOMES ON THE SIDE HERE, AND OTHER HOMES ACROSS THE WAY.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE.
I'M GOING TO ASK DAVID BERNARD IF HE'LL START TO TALK ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE ARCHITECTURE, PLEASE.
JUST GUIDE ME AS YOU WANT ME TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE SLIDES.
>> HERE IS AN IMAGE FROM THE SHARED ACCESS WAY INTO THE SITE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A GATEWAY INTO THE SITE WHICH IS HEAVILY LANDSCAPED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MAIN DRIVEWAY, POSSIBLY THE LANDSCAPE ISLAND.
THERE'S A BUFFER IN BERM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOT, WHICH SHIELDS THE PARKING AND BEHIND.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE WILL SHOWS US THE OVERALL?
>> IN THIS IMAGE FOR THE HOTEL SPECIFICALLY, THE ONE BENEFIT TO THE WAY WE'VE LAID OUT THE PARKING LOT ON THIS IS, THAT WE HAVE THREE SHEERS OF LANDSCAPING FROM GROUND LEVEL THAT SHIELDS THE HOTEL.
WE HAVE THE FIRST LEVEL AT THE STREET, THEN WE HAVE THE NEXT LEVEL IN THE PARKING LOT, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ROLE OF PARKING THAT ALSO HAS LANDSCAPING IN IT.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE BASE PLANTING AGAINST THE BUILDING.
THERE'S ACTUALLY FOUR LEVELS OF PLANTING THAT HIDE THE HOTEL.
GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE UP THERE.
THIS IS AN IMAGE FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
THIS IS FROM THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE WHERE THE GOLF COURSE IS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY AN IMAGE THAT WE TOOK AND WHEN WE SUPER-IMPOSE
[02:25:04]
OUR HOTEL IN THERE TO GIVE IT SOME REALITY OF WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM THE BACKYARDS.YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S NOT REALLY BECAUSE IT'S A FOUR STORY BUILDING WHICH IS ALMOST IN KEEPING WITH THE ADJACENT CLUBHOUSE.
THE CLUBHOUSE IS CLOSER, SO THEREFORE WE'RE A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY.
WE ARE ALMOST THE SAME HEIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDITIONALLY ADDING LOTS OF LANDSCAPING IN HERE, AGAIN, SCREENING THE HOTEL SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE VIEWS INTO ANYBODY'S YARDS.
ALSO, THAT'S JUST TO ENHANCE OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE HOTEL. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS FROM [INAUDIBLE] I THINK IT'S NORTHWEST 75TH STREET.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE HOTEL JUST BARELY.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE HOTEL.
IT IS TALLER, BUT IT'S ALMOST THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE FENCES ON AN ANGLE WHEN YOU'RE STANDING THERE, AND THAT'S FOR THE LANDSCAPING, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
AS FOR THE ARCHITECTURE, THIS BUILDING HAS CHANGED A LOT, THIS IS A BRANDED HOTEL.
A LOT OF HORIZONTAL LINES ON THIS HOTEL.
IT'S MADE OF STUCCO AND ALUMINUM BASICALLY.
OUR FIRST ITERATION, WE DID TRY TO DO SIX STORIES TO CONDENSE THE FOOTPRINT, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ECONOMICAL.
BUT THIS WAS VERY QUICKLY REJECTED BY THE CITY BECAUSE IT REALLY DIDN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
IT WAS A BIT LOUD WITH THE RED IN THERE AND REALLY DIDN'T FIT INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? IN THIS ONE, WE TOOK SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND WE TONED DOWN THE COLORS, MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE EARTH TONE, BUT AGAIN, IT WASN'T REALLY A RESIDENTIAL FEEL SO I TOOK IT TO [INAUDIBLE].
CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? BASICALLY, THIS IS WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN TO [INAUDIBLE].
THERE'S A LOT OF ITERATIONS IN-BETWEEN HERE.
BUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS, THE WAY THE BUILDING LOOKS BECAUSE IT'S A LONG BUILDING, REPRESENTS MULTIPLE HOMES.
HOMES ARE NOT THE SAME WHEN YOU LOOK ONE NEXT TO THE NEXT.
THE IDEA IS THAT THIS WOULD REPRESENT ONE HOME, THE NEXT HOME WILL BE ANOTHER HOME.
WE INTRODUCED MULTIPLE MATERIALS.
WE HAVE STONE, STUCCO, MULTIPLE COLORS TO BREAK UP THE ELEVATION.
THE OTHER THING IS WE TOOK OFF THE HORIZONTAL BANDING, WE ADDED SHUTTERS.
WE SCREENED THE MECHANICAL SCREENING WITH A DECORATIVE SCREEN.
WE CONCEALED THE BEACON AT THE TOP, THE LIGHT BEACON THAT WAS SHOWN BEFORE.
NOW THAT IT'S UNDERNEATH THIS CAP SO THAT IT LOOKS MORE RESIDENTIAL, WE ADDED A RESIDENTIAL ROOF FEATURE TO PEAK ROOFS TO SPECIFIC SPOTS ON THE BUILDING THAT MADE SENSE.
THANK YOU, DAVID. TO ADD TO THAT, THERE IS A LIMIT AND WE COULD HAVE GONE TO THE LIMIT OF 60 FEET, AND WE DID INITIALLY, AND THEN WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND FELT WE SHOULD BRING IT DOWN.
SO WE'RE AT AN AVERAGE FOR ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE BUILDING, WE'RE AT ABOUT 46 FEET.
THAT IS MOSTLY BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID WE LOSE FIVE ROOMS, BUT WE HAVE TO SPREAD THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING FURTHER, AND BETWEEN THAT, THE EXTRA, ALMOST DOUBLE THE LANDSCAPING YOU'D NORMALLY HAVE, THE FACADE THAT YOU SEE HERE IN STONE, AND OTHER CHANGES, IT'S PROBABLY, ROUGHLY, IT'LL BE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN EXTRA COSTS.
BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BUILDING FIT IN SO WE'VE TAKEN THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
THE BUILDING WILL BE A PLACE TO HOLD KEY LIFE EVENTS, WEDDINGS, ETC., AND GUESTS WILL OF COURSE HAVE AMENITIES TO THE CLUBHOUSE, AND THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE SUNDAY BRUNCH, MOTHER'S DAY, ETC., THAT ANYBODY CAN ATTEND.
WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE HOSPITAL THAT'S A MILE AWAY AND THEY CERTAINLY WELCOME THE EXTRA SPACE FOR HOSPITAL MEETINGS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER FUNCTIONS SO WE EXPECT THEM TO BE A MAJOR CLIENT.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES NOW THAT WILL OPEN UP, WHETHER IT'S TENNIS CAMPS OR GOLF, WHETHER IT'S FOR CHILDREN OR ADULTS, WHETHER IT'S FOR CHAMPIONSHIP OR OTHERWISE THAT WEREN'T THERE BEFORE.
BECAUSE WE CAN NOW OFFER, FOR EXAMPLE, A 10 A WEEK LONG TENNIS PACKAGE OR A WEEK LONG GOLF PACKAGE AND PEOPLE ARE RIGHT THERE.
THEY'RE NOT WANDERING AROUND ALL OVER THE CITY, GOING TO HOTEL AND THEN COMING OVER HERE, SO FRANKLY LESS TRAFFIC AS WELL.
[02:30:03]
CERTAINLY, THE OPPORTUNITY THEY WILL BE COMMUNITY TENNIS MEMBERSHIPS AS WELL SO THE COMMUNITY IS WELCOME TO USE THE TENNIS COURTS TO PLAY TENNIS.ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT'S BEEN RAISED IS HAVING A HOTEL ON A GOLF COURSE IN A COMMUNITY SETTING.
I'M GOING TO ASK JOHN AGAIN IF HE MIGHT SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE.
>> SURE. I WANTED MAKE MENTION, THERE'S ANOTHER HOTEL THAT IS PART OF A GOLF COMMUNITY IN BROWARD COUNTY.
IT'S CALLED THE GRAND PALMS HOTEL AND IT'S IN PEMBROKE PINES.
IT'S A RATHER MATURE HOTEL THAT'S CURRENTLY UP FOR CONSIDERATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR HOTEL, THE RESIDENCE THAT AREA RESIDENTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM HAVING THE SERVICES AND AMENITIES AVAILABLE AT THIS PARTICULAR HOTEL IN PEMBROKE PINES, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY HAS BEEN BECOME A CORNERSTONE OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY BY HOSTING A VARIETY OF EVENTS THERE AT THE MEETING FACILITIES AT THAT PARTICULAR HOTEL AND IT COULD HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION HERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE HOTEL AND THE CLUBHOUSE WOULD HAVE EXPANSIVE MEETING FACILITIES.
COULD YOU SKIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE THERE FOR ME? THERE WAS ONE EXAMPLE, WE WORKED WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM HILTON, BUT I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A ANOTHER HOME TO SUITES THAT THIS ONE HAPPENS TO BE OUT ON THE WEST COAST OUT IN CALIFORNIA.
BUT THIS IS ALSO SPECIFICALLY A HOME2 DEVELOPMENT, A HOME2 SUITES HOTEL DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS BUILT ADJACENT TO A GOLF COURSE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, THERE WAS ACTUALLY TWO HILTON PRODUCTS THAT WERE DEVELOPED.
THERE'S A HOME2 WITH A HILTON GARDEN IN THAT WAS BUILT ADJACENT TO IT AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY OF THESE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE EXAMPLES WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. SO MOVING ON NOW TO SPECIAL CONDITION NUMBER 2.
AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS I WILL BRING UP THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH US.
THE VISITORS CAN STAY ON THE SITE, THEIR NEW LIFESTYLE AMENITIES, AND CERTAINLY, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY FOR WOODMONT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO JOIN WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB OR TO JOIN, LET'S SAY THE TENNIS OPPORTUNITY, ETC.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAS COME UP OF CONCERNS IS WHAT KIND OF HOTEL GUESTS WILL FREQUENT AT THE HOTEL? HOTEL GUESTS TODAY USE A HOTEL FOR BUSINESS OR FOR LEISURE.
GUESTS WILL BE PAYING A ROOM RATE AT PEAK TIMES OF $250 A NIGHT, AND OTHER TIMES, IT WILL BE LESS.
THE TYPICAL BUSINESS TRAVELER'S STAY, PROFILE IS LISTED RIGHT HERE.
BUT IN 2014, TYPICALLY, BUSINESS TRAVELER WAS SPENDING A $147 PER ROOM NIGHT SO THAT REALLY INCREASED SINCE THEN.
THE OTHER CONCERN THAT WAS EXPRESSED TO US IS EXTENDED STAY APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMENT MADE TO US IS AT TWO ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.
NUMBER ONE, THAT THE HOTEL WILL, HOW SHALL I PUT IT, LIKELY USED FOR TRICKS, SO AN HOUR-LONG STAY.
THE OTHER COMMENT HAS THAT PEOPLE ON WELFARE WITH 10 OTHER MEMBERS WILL MOVE IN AND STAY HERE FOR 30 DAYS AT A TIME, AND I'M GOING AT $200 A NIGHT? I DON'T THINK SO. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT AVERAGE HOTEL STAY IS 2.4 NIGHTS IN THE US, EXTENDED STAY AT HILTON IS 3.8, AND AS JOHN POINTED OUT, GIVEN GOLF COURSE AND THE CLUBHOUSE, AND THE TENNIS COURTS, WE EXPECT THIS TO BE ABOUT A-FIVE NIGHT AVERAGE STAY.
THE OTHER QUESTION IS WHO WOULD USE THE HOTEL? SO HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF GUESTS WHO ARE ATTENDING THE WEDDING.
MAYBE THIS IS THE FATHER AND MOTHER OF THE BRIDE, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY HERE FOR AN EVENT, AND THEY WOULD BE PAYING A ROOM WHICH IS AT THE CLUBHOUSE,
[02:35:03]
AND THEY WOULD BE PAYING A ROOM RATE OF $150-250 A NIGHT.THAT'S WHO WILL BE STAYING THERE.
THE OTHER CONCERN IS, HOW WILL CRIME BE AFFECTED? THERE IS NO CO-RELATION BETWEEN A HILTON HOTEL GOING IN AND CRIME.
[BACKGROUND] ABSOLUTELY [INAUDIBLE].
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.
>> LET'S AGREE THAT YOU DON'T ECHO ME AND I DON'T ECHO YOU.
SO LET ME SPEAK, AND WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING, I WILL BE QUIET.
I THINK THAT'S FAIR. THANK YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO LET THE APPLICANTS FINISH SPEAKING AND THEN WE WILL GO TO OUR OTHER COMMENTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THESE SAME POINTS WERE RAISED BEFORE THIS COMMISSION WHEN THERE WAS MOTION OR A PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE POLITICAL HOMES, AND WHEN THERE WAS A MOTION FOR THE CLUBHOUSE.
SO WE'RE GETTING THE SAME COMMENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT THEY'RE NOT MORE THAT BY REALITY.
WE HAVE POLITICAL HOMES GOING UP, WE HAVE THE CLUBHOUSE GOING UP, AND TURN OF COURT WAS FEARED HAS MATERIALIZED.
I BELIEVE IT'S THE LAST ONE, BUT THE LAST CONCERN I WANT TO RAISE IS THAT THIS IS NEAR SCHOOLS AND OUR KIDS ARE AT RISK.
WELL, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE FROM CHANDLER, ARIZONA, IN PHOENIX, WHERE THERE'S A FOUR MINUTE WALK AND THERE IS A PATH TO A MONTESSORI SCHOOL, THE CASA DEL NINO BILINGUAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL.
HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN BUCKEYE, ARIZONA.
A TWO-MINUTE DRIVE, THAT'S THE HOME2 SUITE AND A TWO-MINUTE DRIVE TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE SUNDANCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT AT ALL.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE CONCERNS THAT REALLY HAVE NOT MATERIALIZED.
MOVING ON TO SPECIAL EXCEPTION NUMBER 3, TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE EXTENSIVE SETBACKS, BUFFERS, LANDSCAPING ON THE SITE.
WE GREATLY, GREATLY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WHAT THE CITY EXPECTED.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP FROM A MEETING, AND THIS WAS FROM A RESIDENT FROM ACROSS THE GOLF COURSE, WAS SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT LIGHT LEVELS FROM WINDOWS.
IF WE HAD EVERY WINDOW LIT IN EVERY GUEST CHOSE AT THAT TIME TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON HER PROPERTY WHERE SHE LOOKED OUT? WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND WE DECIDED FROM THAT COMMENT TO TINT THE WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES SO THAT IF WE WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SITUATION REALISTICALLY WHERE EVERY WINDOW IS LIT UP.
BUT EVEN IF THAT WERE THE CASE, ALL OF THE WINDOWS WILL BE TINTED AT THAT COST SO THAT WE MINIMIZE LIGHT IMPACT THERE.
THE LIGHT IMPACT ON THE BUILDING AND THE LIGHT IMPACT ON THE PARKING LOT ARE MINIMAL.
THEY MEET CITY CODE STANDARDS AND THEY MEET SAFETY STANDARDS BUT THEY KEPT MINIMAL TO MINIMIZE ANY IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
THE SITE IS VOID OF ANY PREEXISTING CODE CONDITIONS.
DAVID, YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS? YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS?
>> GO AHEAD FIRST AND I'LL ADD ON.
>> OKAY. SO THE SITE IS WITHIN ZONING DISTRICT THAT BOARD IS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES.
OBVIOUSLY, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES HERE, OTHER HOMES HERE AT [INAUDIBLE] AND NEW HOMES TO COME UP THERE.
HAVE PLACED THE BUILDING AS FAR AWAY AS WE COULD FROM THE STREET SO THAT WE VASTLY EXCEED ANY BUFFER REQUIREMENTS THAT ONE WOULD HAVE.
AGAIN, AS DAVID MENTIONED, ENOUGH LANDSCAPING IN THE FRONT AND BERMING ETC., TO MINIMIZE FROM THE BACK, TO MINIMIZE FROM THE SIDE.
SO WE'VE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY AND REDUCE THE IMPACT BESIDES REDUCING THE HEIGHT DOWN TO 46 FEET ON AVERAGE FOR MOST OF THE BUILDING, WE'VE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MINIMIZE ANY IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
DAVID, IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THE SIGNAGE, PLEASE.
>> IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT [LAUGHTER] SIGNAGE, BUT THE SIGNAGE TYPICALLY IS A LOT HIGHER ON A BUILDING.
IN THIS CASE, WE'VE POSITIONED IT BELOW THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE BUILDING.
[02:40:07]
IT IS BACKLIT, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE SO FAR AWAY FROM THE SITE HERE, IT'S NOT THAT VISIBLE TO BE SEEN.>> AGAIN, LASTLY, JUST THE STREET IMPACT, WE'VE TRIED TO MINIMIZE THAT.
THE NEXT CONDITION IS ADEQUATE PARKING AREAS AND LOADING, CIRCULATION, ETC.
DAVID, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.
>> SURE. ON-SITE PARKING, FOR THE HOTEL ALONE, WE REQUIRE 122 PARKING SPACES, WHICH WE ARE PROVIDING.
ON THE WOODMONT PROPERTY, THEY REQUIRE 209 WHICH THEY NOW WILL BE PROVIDING ON THEIR REMAINING PARCELS.
THE HOTEL DEMAND IS AT NIGHTS, AND THE GOLF COURSE, OUR DEMAND IS DURING THE DAY.
THERE IS A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, THAT THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A PARKING ISSUE BETWEEN THEM.
THEY'VE GOT, COMBINED, 331 PARKING SPACES.
>> DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT FIRE ACCESS?
>> WE HAVE THIS ROAD, IT'S DRAWN A LITTLE THICKER HERE, BUT THERE'S A GOLF CART PATH HERE, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY A FIRE ROUTE AS WELL FOR THIS BUILDING THAT'S IN THE BACK.
IT'S NOT THE CLUB HOUSE, IT'S THE CART BARN, BUT THERE'S A FIRE ROUTE ACCESS THERE TO THE BACK WHICH ALSO PROVIDES US FIRE SAFETY ACCESS, FOR SPRINKLERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> WE'LL SKIP PARKING BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT PARKING.
TRAFFIC MOVEMENT IS THE FIFTH CONDITION THAT WE NEED TO MEET.
THERE IS ALREADY A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY UP THE STREET, AND AS MAXINE POINTED OUT, THERE IS PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM THE STREET THROUGH THE PARKING LOT TO THE BUILDING, AND ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ALONG THE DRIVEWAY AS WELL INSIDE.
VERY BRIEFLY, WE HAD A TRAFFIC METHODOLOGY DESIGNED BY THE CITY.
I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC STUDY WE'VE EVER BEEN REQUIRED TO PROVIDE.
BUT WE SAID FINE, LET'S MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T A TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
IT WAS CARRIED OUT BY AN INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC CONSULTANT.
NOBODY KNEW RECOMMENDATIONS OBJECTIVELY, AND THEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY'S TRAFFIC CONSULTANT ONCE THE STUDY CAME IN.
THE BOTTOM LINE, AND I WON'T GO OVER WHAT MAXINE ALREADY HAS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE HOTEL'S TRAFFIC IMPACT WILL BE EXTREMELY MINIMUM AND THERE IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT CAPACITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE TO HANDLE ANY TRAFFIC THAT COMES UP FROM THE PROJECT.
THEN LASTLY, WE NEED TO MEET A REQUIREMENT THAT THE LAND AREA BE SUFFICIENT, APPROPRIATE, AND ADEQUATE FOR THE LAND USE.
THE LAND IS JUST OVER 13 ACRES, AUXILIARY USE IS PERMITTED, AND IT'S A SIZABLE PARCEL THAT HAS ALREADY HAD APPROVALS FOR RECREATIONAL USES.
THE USE WE ARE PROPOSING IS COMPLIMENTARY TO THE PRINCIPAL RECREATIONAL USE.
FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SUFFICIENT AREA FOR THE BUILDING AND THAT IT COMPLIES WITH ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE, AND THERE'S OF COURSE, ADEQUATE CIRCULATION, LANDSCAPING, ETC.
NOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, AND I'LL END SHORTLY, IS, WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY? I STRESS WOODMONT COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY IS LARGER THAN THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS.
I SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE WE MAILED NOTIFICATIONS TO OVER 2,700 HOMES.
IT CERTAINLY IS A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY.
THE FIRST IS THAT, AND THERE'S FIVE POINTS I WANT TO MAKE HERE, THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE INCREASED TAX REVENUES WHICH CAN HELP KEEP NEIGHBORHOOD TAXES DOWN.
I WILL LET JOHN SPEAK IN A MINUTE ABOUT HOME VALUES, WHICH IS A CONCERN THAT'S ALSO BEEN EXPRESSED.
A PLACE TO HOLD LIFE EVENTS, A DISASTER LIFELINE, AND PREFERRED ROOM RATES.
OUR ESTIMATE IS THAT OVER 50 YEARS, INCLUDING INFLATION, THERE WOULD BE A TAX IMPACT IN TOTAL OF ABOUT 100 MILLION.
THAT IS ABOUT 30 MILLION IN EXTRA PROPERTY TAXES FROM THE HOTEL
[02:45:05]
AND ABOUT 70 MILLION OR SO IN ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER TAXES.I'M GOING TO ASK JOHN IF HE'LL ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUALITY DEVELOPMENTS AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR PROPERTY VALUES.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE.
I AM A HOTEL CONSULTANT, BUT I'M ALSO A CERTIFIED GENERAL REAL ESTATE APPRAISER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE APPRAISAL INSTITUTE.
GIVEN THE AMENITIES AND THE SERVICES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE HOTEL, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD SEE THAT AS A VALUE ENHANCEMENT AS OPPOSED TO A DETRIMENT.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN COMMUNITIES HAVE AMENITIES AND SERVICES READILY AVAILABLE, THIS TENDS TO INCREASE VALUES AS OPPOSED TO DECREASING THEM.
THAT'S MY OPINION, AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF VALUE ENHANCEMENT AS A RESULT OF READILY AVAILABLE SERVICES AND AMENITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. I JUST PUT UP PULTE HOMES.
AGAIN, THERE WAS CONCERN WHEN APPROVAL WAS BEING GIVEN OR BEING REQUESTED FOR PULTE HOMES TO COME IN.
THEY'VE NOW BEEN BUILDING SOME OF THE HOMES, BUT THIS WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON PROPERTY VALUES, THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.
QUALITY DEVELOPMENTS LIKE PULTE, HILTON, ETC., NEW CLUBHOUSE CAN ONLY SERVE TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES.
AGAIN, THIS IS A PLACE, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S IN IT FOR WOODMONT, TO HOLD KEY LIFE EVENTS, LIFE EVENTS THAT WE ALL HAVE, WHETHER IT'S AN EIGHT-YEAR BIRTHDAY, WHETHER IT'S A WEDDING, WHETHER IT'S A KID'S SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY, ETC.
FLORIDA GETS THE WEATHER THAT WE KNOW IT DOES, AND WE HAVE AGREED TO HAVE BACKUP GENERATORS FOR BOTH THE CLUBHOUSE AND THE HOTEL SO THAT IN THE CASE OF A DISASTER, THEY CAN SERVE AS EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO LOOK AT PREFERRED ROOM RATES FOR THE ENTIRE WOODMONT COMMUNITY.
MAXINE POINTED OUT THAT THIS MEETS GOAL 4.
WE THINK IT ALSO MEETS GOAL 3, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE MIXED-USE AND YOU'RE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY, THEN YOU BRING IN MORE TAX REVENUE.
MORE TAX REVENUE, TO SPEAK TO THE GENTLEMAN TO IMPROMPTU SPOKE UP ABOUT HIS CONCERN ABOUT TAXES, THAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR THE ENTIRE WOODMONT COMMUNITY.
HAVING A HOTEL OF THIS QUALITY HERE WILL BRING ADDITIONAL JOBS, TAXES, AND BENEFITS.
TO CONCLUDE THEN, NUMBER 1, WE'VE MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR REVISED SITE PLAN AND THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUIREMENTS THROUGH WORKING CLOSELY WITH STAFF OVER TWO YEARS, IT'S TWO AND A HALF.
WE HAVE COMMUNICATED OUR PLANS AND SOUGHT INPUT FROM NEIGHBORS AND WE HAVE INCORPORATED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT WILL COST US OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T JUST INCREASE ROOM RATES BY FIVE PERCENT TO BE COMPETITIVE, WE HAVE TO ABSORB THAT.
WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. WE'VE COMMUNICATED BROADLY TO THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY HAS HAD NO ISSUES.
IN FACT, WE HAVE PETITIONS OF SUPPORT.
THE PROJECT WILL BRING JOBS, TAXES, AND OTHER BENEFITS TO WOODMONT.
IT'S THE FINAL PIECE OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT WILL HELP ENSURE VIABLE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND A VIABLE GOLF COURSE.
THIS COMMISSION IS WELL AWARE OF OTHER GOLF COURSES HAVING TO BE TORN DOWN, IN ESSENCE, AND CONVERTED OVER TO DEVELOPMENT, THAT WOULD BE A SHAME TO HAPPEN HERE.
BUT BY HAVING ENOUGH OTHER COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ON THE GOLF COURSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLUBHOUSE, WITH THE TENNIS COURTS, AND WITH THE GOLF COURSE, WE KEEP THE GOLF COURSE AND THE VIEWS, ETC., VIABLE FOR DECADES.
WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT WE WOULD ASK FOR THE COMMISSION'S APPROVAL FOR OUR PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M GOING TO ASK ANYBODY [NOISE] WHO IS GOING TO MAKE COMMENTS VIA FACEBOOK, PLEASE USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT YOUR COMMENTS INTO FACEBOOK AT THIS TIME.
AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE IN PERSON, FACEBOOK COMMENTS AND EMAIL COMMENTS WILL ALSO CLOSE AT THE SAME TIME.
THEN THE FACEBOOK COMMENTS AND EMAIL COMMENTS THAT PERTAIN TO THIS MATTER WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
[02:50:02]
THAT BEING SAID, LET'S GET READY TO HAVE SOME FUN.WE HAVE OUR AFFECTED PARTIES THAT WILL GO FIRST, AND PLEASE AFFECTED PARTIES, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE SUBJECT TO CROSS-EXAMINATION BY THE APPLICANT, OR IF BY THE CITY DEPENDING ON WHO HAS THE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THEN WE WILL GO TO THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE AUDIENCE.
>> MADAM MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD, AS YOU BEGIN THE PRESENTATION BY MR. ISHMAEL, WOULD ALSO BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD.
I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT INTO THE RECORD AS AN EXHIBIT, WHICHEVER BACKUP MAY OTHERWISE ATTENDED TO IT.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PETITIONERS BACKUP AND DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I HAVE FIRST ON MY LIST FOR AFFECTED PARTIES AS SIGNED IN.
AS YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN SWORN IN, ACTUALLY, CITY ATTORNEY, I'M JUST GOING TO CLARIFY, DO WE NEED THEM TO STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE FOR THIS, WE DO NEED YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. MY NAME IS RUSSELL BARAKAT.
BONAIRE IS A COMMUNITY OF 344 UNITS, CONSISTENT OF 202 CONDOMINIUMS, A 144 TOWNHOUSES AND VILLAS.
BONAIRE WAS BUILT IN THE MID 80S.
WE STILL HAVE RESIDENTS THAT OUR ORIGINAL OWNERS THAT ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED NOW MORE THAN EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED IN, WE HAVE SUBMITTED A PETITION OF A 114 NAMES.
PROBABLY COULD HAVE DONE A LOT MORE.
HOWEVER, OUR MANAGER HAD THE COVID VIRUS FOR THE LAST SIX WEEKS AND PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY MORNING.
SO IT WAS TOUGH TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD LIKE ALL OF YOU TO AT LEAST CONSIDER FOUR THINGS.
WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM A FOUR STORY HOTEL? I BELIEVE YOUR ANSWER WOULD PROBABLY BE NO.
WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A BUILDING THAT HAD A NEON SIGN ON THE TOP FLOOR AND ONE RIGHT ON THE CURB.
I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD WANT THAT EITHER.
WOULD YOU WANT A PARKING LOT THE SIZE OF A PUBLICS ALL LIT UP.
WE ALREADY HAVE A PARKING LOT FOR THE COUNTRY CLUB.
IT'S ALL LIT UP AND YOU'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER PARKING LOT ALL LIT UP DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.
PLEASE CONSIDER THAT AS THIS WAS YOUR HOME BECAUSE THIS IS OUR HOME.
BONAIRE IS A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEER FOR THIS CITY, FOR THE HOSPITAL, FOR MEALS ON WHEELS OUR COMMUNITY IS ROUGHLY 40 PERCENT SENIOR CITIZEN AND 60 PERCENT YOUNG WORKING PEOPLE, A NUMBER OF WHICH ARE VETERANS, MANY OF WHICH THE NAMES ARE ON THE BOARD AT THE VETERANS PARK.
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS.
THE FIRST MEETING WE HAD WAS THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN A ROOM THAT HOLDS 75 PEOPLE.
WE HAD OVER 200 PEOPLE THERE FROM THE WOODMONT AREA.
THERE WERE PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE THE ROOM.
NOT ONE PERSON SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE HOTEL.
THESE WERE WOODMONT RESIDENTS.
WE AT BONAIRE HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOPERS, AND MY MANAGER AND I HAD ONE, AND I HAD ONE MYSELF FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHERE WE DROVE AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A SCHOOL ZONE ON 80TH AVENUE AND 75TH, A SCHOOL BUS STOPS RIGHT THERE.
ALSO. WE HAVE ANOTHER SCHOOL PROBLEM ON 78TH STREET, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMING IN AND OFF UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE A LITTLE TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING WHICH WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE REGARDING THE HOTEL BUT IT WAS A DISTRICT MEETING AND IT WAS THE BIGGEST DISTRICT MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.
THE SUBJECT CAME UP, IT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THEN TOWARD THE END, OUR COMMISSIONER ASK US TO MEET WITH THEM.
WE MET WITH THEM AT THE OLD COUNTRY CLUB.
WE HAD ABOUT 60-65 PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE.
SOME OF THEM DIDN'T STAY FOR THE MEETING.
[02:55:02]
THEY WERE ALL FLEE-BITTEN BECAUSE NO ONE HAD BEEN IN THE A COUNTRY CLUB FOR A LONG TIME.NO ONE THERE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF IT.
WITHOUT TRYING TO PROLONG THIS THING, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT OFF IN, THE PEOPLE WHO BONAIRE DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS HOTEL IS IN A RIGHT PLACE.
IT COULD BE ON UNIVERSITY OR MCNAB OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON A MAIN STREET WHERE IT BELONGS.
I REST MY PEACE I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>>THANK YOU. AT FIRST, WE WILL GO TO CITY STAFF.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE FOR THE AFFECTED PARTY? I DON'T THINK THAT WE DO.
>> NO QUESTION, MADAM MAYOR I'M SORRY.
>> THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. IT'S IT'S JUST A LITTLE HARD, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE AFFECTED PARTY WHO SPOKE MR. BARAKAT?
>> YEAH, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ACTUALLY.
FIRSTLY, THE PARKING REQUIREMENT IS A CITY REQUIREMENT.
IF WE HAD OUR WAY WITH THE 209 SPACES THERE, WE COULD MAKE DUE BETWEEN THE HOTEL AND THE CLUBHOUSE, BUT THE CITY REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE THE PARKING SPACES WE HAVE.
SECONDLY, AND THE CITY CAN COMMENT ON THIS, BUT THE LIGHT LEVELS ARE AS LOW AS WE CAN GET THEM WHILE STILL SERVING THE PURPOSE OF HAVING SAFETY, WHICH EVERYBODY I'M SURE WOULD WANT TO HAVE SAFETY.
THIRDLY, IN TERMS OF LIGHT, THE SIGNS THAT THE GENTLEMAN TALKED ABOUT, ARE NEON SIGNS THERE IS MUTED AS WE CAN MAKE THEM AND WE HAVE REDUCED THE SIGNAGE.
WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE MUCH MORE VISIBLE SIGNAGE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
IF WE REMOVE THEM ANYMORE IT WON'T BE A HILTON.
>> MR. BARAKAT IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT.
>> WHAT I MISSED SAYING BY THE WAY, WHEN AT NIGHTTIME, WHEN CARS ARE COMING OUT TO THE STREET, THE LIGHTS ARE SHINING DIRECTLY INTO A NUMBER OF OUR BEDROOMS AND LIVING ROOMS. WHETHER IT'S CONDO 2, 3, OR 4 PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE END ARE GOING TO SEE THE LIGHTS OF THE CAR'S LEAVING THAT AREA.
>> THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY TO THE COMMISSION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE AFFECTED PARTIES AT THE TIME WHEN IT COMES BEFORE COMMISSION.
AT THIS TIME, IT IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TO BE MADE BEFORE WE ARE HEARD AND WE SPEAK.
>> I HAVE A SUGGESTION IF DON'T MIND.
THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
CAN WE JUST HEAR FROM AS MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEAK AND THEN HAVE THE STAFF AND THE DEVELOPER QUESTION OR RESPOND ONCE EVERYONE SPEAKS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> COMMISSIONER GELIN, I APPRECIATE.
>> I APPRECIATE. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE ONLY TIME WHEN THERE'S BACK AND FORTH ARE FOR THE AFFECTED PARTIES.
WE HAVE TWO MORE EFFECTED PARTIES.
THAT IS PROCEDURE SINCE IT'S QUASI JUDICIAL.
I UNDERSTAND. WE DO WANT TO GET EVERYBODY TO SPEAK AND THE TIME IS RUNNING, WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE LEFT FOR AFFECTED PARTIES.
CHRISTIE SIEBENS APOLOGIZE IF I AM NOT READING THIS RIGHT.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND CONFIRM THAT YOU HAD BEEN SWORN IN.
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTIE SIEBENS.
>> 7515 NORTHWEST 79TH AVENUE, NUMBER 314.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN?
>> MY HUSBAND AND I HAD BEEN IN BONAIRE SINCE 1999.WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED US TO THIS AREA WERE THE BEAUTIFUL OLD TREES THAT LINE BOTH 78TH AND 80TH AND THE COZY RESIDENTIAL FEEL OF THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SURROUNDED BY CITIES.
SADLY, OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED, THOSE TREES HAVE SOLELY DISAPPEARED DUE TO AGE, HURRICANES AND MOST RECENTLY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOMES AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GOLF COURSE WHERE WE SAW TREE AFTER TREE BULLDOZE DOWN ALONG 80TH AVENUE.
NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO ACCEPT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HOTEL RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY BUILDINGS.
[03:00:02]
WE DON'T WANT THE LIGHTS FROM BOTH THE HOTEL AND THE VEHICLES COMING AND GOING FROM THERE OR THE NOISE FROM ANY EVENTS THAT MAY BE HELD THERE.THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY HAS TRIED TO PUSH A HOTEL IN THIS LOCATION.
WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS WHEN YOU KNOW, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES DON'T WANT IT.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL MY HUSBAND AND I EVER WANT A HOTEL SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE TRAFFIC.
I DON'T CARE THAT THE ENGINEERS SAY THE ROADS CAN HANDLE THE INCREASE, WE CAN'T.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AN INCREASE AS IT IS.
PEOPLE BLOW THROUGH THE THROUGH-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF 70TH AND 80TH ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AT NIGHT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO LIKE TO USE 80TH AS A RACEWAY GUNNING THEIR ENGINES AS THEY FLY BY.
THERE'S A SCHOOL ZONE RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF 80TH AND 75TH STREET.
WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN NOT ONLY FROM INCREASED TRAFFIC, BUT FROM TRANSIT PEOPLE USING THIS HOTEL WHO WILL BE STRANGERS TO US ALL.
KIDS WALK BY THEMSELVES ALONG THOSE SIDEWALKS ALL THE TIME NOT ONLY ON THE SCHOOL DAYS, WHEN THERE'S A CROSSING GUARD TO WATCH OVER THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
LASTLY, THE CITY HAS A HOTEL JUST OVER A MILE DOWN THE ROAD ON PINE ISLAND BY A GOLF COURSE.
I CAN'T REALLY IMAGINE THE CITY NEEDS ANOTHER ONE OFFERING SIMILAR SERVICES IN OUR BACKYARD, A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I UNDERSTAND THIS MAY SOMEHOW BE TIED TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE GOLF COURSE AND ADDITIONAL TAX DOLLARS FOR THE CITY, BUT KNOWING WE DIDN'T WANT A HOTEL IN THE PAST SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND RESPECTED.
HERE WE ARE, AGAIN, ASKING THAT YOU, OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS, VOTE AGAINST ALLOWING A HOTEL TO BE BUILT HERE NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.
IN DOING SO, YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF OUR CITY'S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE MADE TAMARAC A DRAW TO SO MANY IN PAST YEARS AND FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU.
I WILL ASK CITY STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THIS AFFECTED PARTY?
>> THANK YOU. APPLICANT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THIS AFFECTED PARTY?
>> I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TAKING DOWN TREES, WE'RE PROPOSING PUTTING IN HUNDREDS OF TREES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE TREES THAT WERE TAKEN DOWN, BUT AS WE'VE OUTLINED DAVID SPOKE, WE ARE PUTTING IN A LOT OF TREES THERE.
SECONDLY, AS FAR AS LIGHTS ARE CONCERNED, GUESTS WHO COME TO A HOTEL GENERALLY END UP STAYING AT THE HOTEL OVERNIGHT THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE, AND THE [INAUDIBLE] RESIDENTS HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT ADEQUATE TREES ON THEIR SITE, THEY HAVEN'T AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO AND WHAT WE CAN TO SHIELD THE HOTEL FROM THE RESIDENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE WE CAN DO.
WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY AND SHIELD THE RESIDENTS THERE FROM THE HOTEL.
>> PLEASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
NOW WE WILL TURN TO MARILYN BROWN, OUR LAST AFFECTED PARTY WHO HAS SIGNED UP.
FORGIVE ME WE HAVE TWO MORE EFFECTIVE PARTIES THAT I DON'T HAVE ON MY LIST BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR GOMEZ, COMMISSIONERS, BOLTON, PLACKO, GELIN, AND VILLALOBOS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING AND TO OUR PRESENTERS THIS EVENING AND THE DEVELOPER, I WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE CHANGES AND ACCOMMODATIONS YOU'VE MADE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HOTEL THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING FOR OUR AREA.
WHAT YOU JUST DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THOUGH IS THAT WE DON'T WANT THE HOTEL AND WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS HOTEL NOTION SINCE 2006 NOT 2014 WHICH IS THE FIRST DATE ON THE SLIDES THAT MS. CALLOWAY PRESENTED BUT 2006.
WHEN THE COUNTRY CLUB WAS SOLD IN 2006 TO MARK SCHMIDT, HE PROMISED TO MAINTAIN THE GOLF COURSE AND BRING IT BACK TO A PROFITABLE ESTABLISHMENT.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A COPY OF THE NEWSLETTER FROM 2006 WITH HIS GREAT DESIGN [NOISE].
[03:05:02]
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED, IN FACT JUST THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED.NO MONEY WAS INVESTED IN THE COUNTRY CLUB, NO MONEY WAS INVESTED IN THE GREENS, NO MONEY WAS INVESTED IN THE CLUBHOUSE AND IN FACT HE LET THE ENTIRE AREA DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT HE HOPED, I BELIEVE, THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD GET FED UP AND FINALLY LED HIM DO ONE OF HIS GREAT PLANS WHICH HAVE INCLUDED STRIP MALLS, HOTELS, CONDOS, TOWN HOMES AND PRIVATE HOMES.
WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS UNTIL WE FINALLY APPROVED THE [INAUDIBLE] DEAL WHICH I THINK AT THAT POINT WE SAID NO TO A HOTEL ALSO.
UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, MR. SCHMIDT HAS SHOWN NO RESPECT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT BUT WANTS US TO APPROVE THE PLAN FOR A HOTEL THAT BENEFITS HIM, IT WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC, NOISE AND BRING MORE NON-RESIDENTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW I HAVE TO SAY I'M A HILTON XANDER MEMBER.
I HAVE ACTUALLY STAYED AT HOME TO SUITES AND THEY'RE GREAT FOR BUSINESS BUT I DON'T SEE BUSINESS PEOPLE STAYING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY WANT TO BE WHERE THEIR BUSINESS IS, THEY WANT TO BE CLOSE TO STORES AND SHOPPING MALLS AND RESTAURANTS AND THAT'S NOT WOODMONT.
WHEN I HEAR THE NUMBERS BEING PUT OUT A $150 TO $250 A NIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES, NEW HOTELS THAT HAD BEEN BUILT IN TAMARAC AND THEIR CURRENT ROOM RATE IS $52 TO $75 A NIGHT.
THEN I LOOKED AT THE HOME2 SUITES AND FORT LAUDERDALE BY THE AIRPORT WHERE WE HAD BUSINESS TRAVELERS AND THE ROOMS ARE $89 TO $105 A NIGHT.
NOW I'M SURE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS ARE DEPRESSED BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE COVID AND NOBODY'S TRAVELING BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'LL EVER GET TO A $250 A NIGHT AT THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB HOTEL, HOME2 SUITES, HILTON FRANCHISE.
WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THE HOTEL WILL BE IN DIRECT COMPETITION TO THE NEW FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES BY MARIETTE THAT IS BEING BUILT AT COLONY WEST BY THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND HAS BEEN MARKETED AS THE CROWN JEWEL OF TAMARAC, IT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE TAMAGRAM.
WHY ARE WE EVEN CONSIDERING ANOTHER HOTEL WITHIN TWO MILES OF A HOTEL THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE OWNING, THAT WOULD BE DIRECT COMPETITION? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FIGHT A HOTEL, IN FACT AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN SAYING NO SINCE 2006.
THE IDEA THAT IT IS BEING RECONSIDERED, ONCE AGAIN SHOWS TO ME A LACK OF TOTAL DISRESPECT AND DISREGARD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT AND IT'S DISRESPECT AND DISREGARD FROM THE OWNER OF THE COUNTRY CLUB, FROM THE DEVELOPER AND QUITE HONESTLY, FROM MY CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR WHO HAVE AGAIN ALLOWED THIS TO BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.
I AM WITH THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT AND I IMPLORE YOU AND BEG YOU TO PLEASE TURN DOWN THIS PROPOSAL NOT JUST TONIGHT BUT FOR THE FUTURE.
IT DOES NOT BELONG IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE OVERHEAD PICTURES THAT WERE SHOWN WHILE THEY LOOK TERRIFIC FROM THE SKY, THOSE OF US WHO WALK THAT AREA EVERY SINGLE DAY, KNOW JUST HOW TIGHT THE QUARTERS AND HOW CLOSE THIS HOTEL WILL BE TO OUR HOMES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME [APPLAUSE].
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE COME ON, PLEASE.
GREAT. YOU NEED TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE COMMISSION, PLEASE.
EVERYBODY KNOW MS. BROWN, YOU SPOKE VERY WELL.
I NEED TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND TO CONFIRM THAT YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN PLEASE.
>> YES, I HAVE BEEN SWORN IN, NAME IS MARILYN BROWN, 8542 NORTHWEST 80TH STREET, TAMARAC.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE HOLD TIGHT IN CASE THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS AND AGAIN IT'S NOT THAT HARD.
THIS [NOISE] PLEASE. YES, IT DOES.
IT WORKS VERY WELL. THERE YOU GO.
YOU GOT IT. CITY STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. BROWN?
>> NONE [INAUDIBLE] , MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> APPLICANT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES. I'M GOING TO ASK JOHN.
JOHN, YOU'RE STILL WITH US TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF RATES AND NEED FOR HOTEL.
>> I THINK THAT THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AND I THINK THE PRICE POINTS THAT WERE OBTAINED ARE POST COVID.
WHEN WE DID THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A NEED.
THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DEMAND TO SUPPORT THE HOTEL IN THE AVERAGE RATE LEVELS ALTHOUGH,
[03:10:02]
IT IS A SEASONAL MARKET THE AVERAGE RATE LEVELS THAT WERE STATED EARLIER, I THINK ARE WELL SUPPORTED IN THE MARKETPLACE AND THE RESEARCH THAT WE CONDUCTED IN THE FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS.AT THIS TIME CITY CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO THE OTHER AFFECTED PARTIES ARE?
>> YES. IT'S [INAUDIBLE] IS GOING TO GIVE HER A CALL.
WE ALSO HAVE DIANE DICKMAN AND WE HAVE A LETTER FROM RABBI BERNSTEIN, SHE WOULD LIKE READ INTO THE RECORD.
>> THE ARE THREE. OKAY. VIRTUAL.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW JOINING.
>> [INAUDIBLE] , WOULD YOU PLEASE PROCEED AND ASK TO SWEARING?
>> YES. MS. [INAUDIBLE] AS A NOTARY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD?
>> [INAUDIBLE].7579 NORTHWEST 79TH AVENUE, TAMARAC.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED.
>> IS THIS THE MEETING ABOUT THE HOTEL? I'M NOT SURE WHO'S CALLING ME.
>> SORRY, IT IS THE MEETING ABOUT THE HOTEL HEIGHTS, IT'S YOU MAYOR MICHELLE J. GOMEZ AND THE COMMISSION IS PRESENT, SO ARE SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.
WE ARE READY TO HEAR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US.
>> OKAY. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] , I LIVE IN BON AIR IN TAMARAC FLORIDA, WOODMONT.
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I'M HERE 37 YEARS.
IN 1983, WE HEARD ABOUT WOODMONT.
WE CAME HERE, WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SERENITY, THE TO PEOPLE AND THE TREES.
WE LOVED IT AND WE'VE MOVED INTO BON AIR.
I HAVE BEEN HAPPY HERE FOR 37 YEARS.
I HAVE AN END APARTMENT THAT FACES 80TH AVENUE.
UP UNTIL ABOUT 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO, IT WAS VERY QUIET.
THEN AS THINGS BUILT UP AROUND TAMARAC, 80TH AVENUE BECAME A VERY BUSY THOROUGHFARE.
AT RUSH HOUR IN THE MORNING AND EVENING, I HEAR A LOT OF CARS AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS COME INTO MY LIVING ROOM OR BEDROOM.
SO I FEAR IF A HOTEL CAME IN AND I HAVE AN END DEPARTMENT, EVEN NOW THAT I'M HEARING THE CARS IN THE MORNING AND IN THE EVENING, IT WOULD BE MUCH WORSE HAVING A HOTEL WITH A CARS WOULD BE COMING AND GOING AND THE LIGHTS WILL BE COMING IN MY BEDROOM AND LIVING ROOM.
SO I LOVE BON AIR, I LOVE WOODMONT AND I LOVE TAMARAC.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEACE AND IT SHOULD BE A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN MY OPINION.
SO THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY HAVE A HEALTHY HAPPY HOLIDAY.
MS. [INAUDIBLE] , IF YOU JUST STAY ON THE LINE JUST FOR A MOMENT PLEASE.
MS. CALLOWAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY?
>> NO, I DO NOT MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AS WELL.
>> THANKS. WE WILL NOW TURN TO THE NEXT CALLER.
>> IS DIANE DICKMAN HERE IN PERSON?
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW EXITING.
>> SHE DIDN'T ASK TO BE CALLED.
>> SHE DID NOT ASK TO BE CALLED, OKAY.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL FROM THE LAST AFFECTED PARTY?
>> CORRECT, THIS IS FROM RABBI MELINDA BERNSTEIN AND IN LIEU OF BEING HERE IN PERSON, SHE ASKED ME TO READ THIS.
I STAND HERE WITH JENNIFER, OUR CITY CLERK REGARDING MY STANCE.
OPPOSED TO THE CHANGE PROPOSED TONIGHT.
IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE LIVED IN WOODMONT WITH MY MOM.
SHE HAS LIVED IN WOODMONT SINCE THE EARLY 1980S.
MY PARENTS MOVED HERE BECAUSE THEY SAW A SIGN THAT READ GOLF COURSE, WHILE VISITING A RELATIVE NEARBY.
CHANGE IS INEVITABLE AND ALSO IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T NEED CHANGE THAT LEADS TO INCREASED CRIME, DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES, BURDENING TRAFFIC, NOISE FROM UNNECESSARY GUESTS AND/OR VEHICLE LIGHTS FLASHING INTO THE PRIVACY OF OUR CONDOS AND HOMES AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.
I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY MANY NEIGHBORS WHO WILL ALWAYS VALUE A CASUAL, SIMPLE, TRANQUIL AND SAFE COMMUNITY.
THIS WOULD BE GREATLY DIMINISHED BY THE ADDITION OF A HOTEL.
TAMARAC ALREADY HAS TWO HOTELS OFF OF THE SAWGRASS AND COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD.
THERE'S ONE AT THE NEW COLONY WEST AND TWO BETWEEN PINE ISLAND AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE OFF OF COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD.
COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD IS AN AREA WHERE WIDER ROADS AND COMMERCIAL USES EXIST.
IN OUR NON-COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE A GOLF COURSE AND A COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE FOR THE GOLFERS.
THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL VISION OF THE AREA.
THE VISION OF THE AREA CAN ONLY CHANGE FOR THE BETTER WHEN IT SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY.
FURTHERMORE, A HOTEL DOESN'T SUPPORT THE WILDLIFE AND THE PRESERVE HERE TO PROTECT THEM.
A SMALL FAMILY FRIENDLY PARK WITH TREES FOR SHADE WOULD BE A WISE AND WELCOME CHOICE TO SUPPORT OUR VALUES OF A CASUAL, SIMPLE, TRANQUIL AND SAFE COMMUNITY.
[03:15:01]
THANK YOU, RABBI MELINDA BERNSTEIN.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALL AFFECTED APPLICANTS, AFFECTED PARTIES HAVE SPOKEN.
IF I CAN CONFIRM TO OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK THAT THERE'S NOBODY ELSE SITTING OUTSIDE.
EXCELLENT, SO EVERYBODY IS IN-HOUSE? EXCELLENT. SO THEN I WILL NOW GO ACCORDING TO THE LIST I HAVE HERE.
IF I READ YOUR NAME AND YOU DO NOT WISH TO SAY ANYTHING OTHER THAN, NO HOTEL, YES HOTEL BECAUSE I'M JUST LOOKING AT YOUR SIGNS IF THAT'S HOW YOU WISH TO SPEAK.
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ADVISED NOT EVERYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK, BUT THEY JUST WANT IT FOR THE RECORD.
I WILL ASK THAT YOU STILL COME DOWN HERE, I DO NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE SWORN IN BECAUSE THIS IS QUASI JUDICIAL.
STATE WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO STATE AND IT WILL GO FROM THERE.
PLEASE, DEFINITELY. THANK YOU.
>> MADAM MAYOR, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE BEEN SWORN.
IF YOU CAN INQUIRE HAVE DID SWORN THEM?
>> OKAY, YES. I'VE BEEN SWORN IN, MY NAME IS RUTH REYNOLDS, I LIVE AT WOODMONT, TRACKED 70 LOB RESERVE AS 7410 NORTHWEST 83RD AVENUE.
WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR JUST A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS AND WE'RE PROUD TO CALL TAMARAC OUR HOME.
SOME OF MY FRIENDS EVEN QUESTION, WHY TAMARAC? AS THEY KNOW IT'S KNOWN AS RETIREMENT CITY.
BUT WE TRULY DO LOVE THE COMMUNITY, THE QUIET, THE VIEW OF THE GOLF COURSE FROM OUR BACKYARD.
MANY MIDDLE AGED PROFESSIONALS ARE STARTING TO MOVE TO THIS AREA JUST FOR THOSE REASONS.
HAVING A HOTEL AND THEN RESIDENTIAL AREA IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND A DESPERATE ATTEMPT FOR WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB TO GENERATE REVENUE.
I'VE WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FOR 30 PLUS YEARS AND HAVE DONE CONSULTING IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT WORK.
THE NEW COUNTRY CLUB IS BEAUTIFUL WITH THE PLUSH LANDSCAPING AND A CLOSED OPTION FOR LUNCH. BUT THAT'S JUST IT.
IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO EXCEL AND GENERATE REVENUE, HERE ARE SOME IDEAS.
MAYBE OPEN FRIDAY NIGHT FOR FISH FRY, SATURDAY NIGHT MAYBE HAVE DINING WITH A BAND AND SOME PRIME RIB, SUNDAY BRUNCH, WEDNESDAY LADIES DAY, THURSDAY MEN'S DAY.
DO PROMOTIONS FOR THEM, HAVE A LOWER PRICE SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP BUT ACTUALLY HAVE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING THERE.
SUCH AS POOL AEROBICS, BINGO, BRIDGE, WEIGHTLIFTING, BAGCHI BALL, TENNIS, WHO KNOWS NO ONE'S PLAYING TENNIS RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON THERE.
THEY THINK THIS HOTEL WILL ATTRACT KEY LIFE EVENTS.
I HAVE WORKED OVER 400 WEDDINGS IN MY CAREER.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE BRIDES ARE THE PICKIEST PEOPLE YOU'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
WE HAD A MEETING THERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WITH LAW RESERVE, [INAUDIBLE] WAS THERE. THANK YOU, DEBORAH.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE DETAILS THERE ARE HORRIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THE LAYOUT AND DESIGN OF THAT COUNTRY CLUB.
THE CHAIRS ARE PLASTIC, YOU CAN SEE THE SCREWS WHERE THEY PUT THEM TOGETHER, THE FULL FOOD AND BEVERAGE MENU NEEDS AN OVERHAUL.
THE CHANDELIERS ARE NOT PROPORTIONATE WITHIN THE BUILDING, THEY TRIED TO LOCK DOWN THE WALL SO THAT WE COULD HEAR EACH OTHER TALK AND NOT LISTEN TO THE BAR PATRONS.
DO YOU THINK LIFE EVENTS WILL WANT TO RENT THAT SPACE WHEN THEY REALIZED WHAT A FAULTY ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT THAT LOCATION IS? THE COUNTRY CLUB DID SO MANY THINGS WRONG.
THEY NEED TO GET THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER PRIME TO ADDING ON ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND AMENITIES.
THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AS IT RELATES TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
WHY DO I BRING THIS UP? A HOTEL CANNOT FIX THIS.
THIS IS NOT A PGA COURSE OR A DESTINATION, THIS IS WHAT I'M SHARING.
THESE ARE THE BALLS THAT I CAUGHT IN LESS THAN A YEAR IN MY BACKYARD.
THESE ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS, I'M SORRY.
THE COUNTRY CLUB HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE RESIDENTS OVER TO BECOME CUSTOMERS.
HOW NICE WOULD IT BE THAT WE COULD WALK TO A LOCAL PLACE TO HAVE A FEW DRINKS AND DINNER.
NOVEMBER THERE WAS THE MEETING, DEVELOPERS BROUGHT UP ROOM RATES.
IT PROPOSED TAX REVENUE IS THAT $250.
I'M ALSO KIND OF IMPACTED, MY BACKYARD IS GOING TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY. I'M ALMOST DONE.
>> WE HAVE PLENTY PEOPLE HERE [INAUDIBLE] , I'M SORRY.
[03:20:03]
>> OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH. I THINK YOU GUYS GET THE GIST.
BUT SCHMIDT HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND THE HOTEL IS NOT THE CORRECT SOLUTION FOR THIS. THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE NOW TO WILLIE JOHNSON.
WILLIE JOHNSON, ARE YOU HERE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, CONFIRM YOU'VE BEEN SWORN AND THREE MINUTES, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR LA RESERVE WOODMONT TRACK 70.
I SENT A PETITION TO YOU, EACH AND EVERYONE, WITH THE SIGNATURES OF BASICALLY MOST OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE OPPOSED TO HAVING THE HOTEL BUILT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR MOST OF THE REASONS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, I HAVE BASICALLY THE SAME REASONS WHY WE DO NOT WISH TO HAVE A HOTEL BUILT AT THE GOLF COURSE.
THE INCREASED TRAFFIC, NOISE POLLUTION.
THE HOTEL FOUR STORIES TALL IS GOING TO BE AN EYESORE FOR MOST OF THE COMMUNITY. WE DON'T WANT IT.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT? A BURGER KING, MCDONALD'S, OR WENDY'S FAST FOOD? IF YOU ALLOW THE HOTEL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BRING IN NEXT? THERE WAS A COVENANT, I NOTICED THAT ON THE BOARD, I GUESS YOU OVERRULED THE COVENANT, BUT THERE WAS A 50-YEAR COVENANT. WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? THERE, AS EVERYONE HAS ALREADY DISCUSSED, THERE ARE TWO HOTELS AT THE [INAUDIBLE] COMMERCIAL.
PLUS YOU HAVE THIS HOTEL THAT WAS JUST BUILT, COLONY WEST.
WHY DIDN'T THEY BUILD THE HOTEL ON MCNAB AT THE OLD WINN-DIXIE BUILDING? [INAUDIBLE].
WHY DIDN'T THEY BUILD ONE THERE? WHY COME INTO A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY TO BUILD A HOTEL? THEY SAY THE HOTEL OFFERS GREAT DEALS AND AFFORDABLE RATES.
WHAT RATES ARE THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE SO AFFORDABLE DURING THE COVID? THEY SAY COVID-19 IS OPPOSED. NO, IT'S NOT.
WE DON'T HAVE A VACCINE YET THAT'S PROVEN TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
COVID IS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.
THE RATES ARE NOT GOING TO BE $250.
I WISH THEY WOULD NOT SAY WHAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
WOODMONT HAS OVER 2,700 HOMES OF PEOPLE THAT RESIDE IN THE AREA WHO ARE ALL OPPOSED TO THIS.
THEY SAY THEY GOT 331 PARKING SPACES.
THAT'S JUST TOO MANY MORE CARS IN OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY, WE DON'T WANT THEM.
ANOTHER THING THEY COMPARED TAMARAC TO ARIZONA.
WE'RE CLOSE TO MIAMI AND FORT LAUDERDALE.
WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH TRAFFIC.
IT'S NOWHERE NEAR LIKE ARIZONA.
ARIZONA IS WAY OUT IN THE BOONDOCKS.
YOU CAN'T COMPARE TAMARAC AND ARIZONA.
NOW, WHO'S GOING TO USE THEM IN THE FUTURE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOWARD ROSEN.
[INAUDIBLE] NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE CONFIRM IF YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME'S HOWARD ROSEN.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE VILLAS AT WOODMONT, A COMMUNITY OF 70 VILLAS.
>> ADDRESS AND IF YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN.
>> 8044 PRINCESS PALM CIRCLE, TAMARAC, 33321.
I HAVE RESIDED AND PRECISELY IN THE VILLAS AT WOODMONT COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
A QUIET, BEAUTIFUL, AND SAFE PLACE.
THIS COMMUNITY IS TRUSTING YOU WILL HONOR YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, WHICH IS TO ENSURE THE SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
JUST TO GET OFF FOR A MOMENT, THE GENTLEMAN, THE APPLICANT, TRIED TO TELL BONAIRE RECENTLY THAT WHY DIDN'T THEY BUILD OR PLANT PLANTS SO THEY DON'T SEE THE HOTEL.
I FIND THAT TO BE ABSURD, THAT HE WOULD SAY THAT, MOVING ON.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THE HOTEL TO MOVE FORWARD.
[03:25:03]
THIS PROJECT WILL NOW PROVIDE GOOD-PAYING, LONG-TERM JOBS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF TAMARAC BUT WILL BRING IN A TRANSIENT POPULATION BASED ON THE TYPE OF HOTEL BEING PLANNED.THAT WILL BE A DETRIMENT TO OUR OVERALL WELL-BEING.
TAMARAC IS A CITY OF APPROXIMATELY 67,000 PEOPLE.
ALREADY HAS SEVEN HOTELS AND ONE IN THE FINAL PHASE.
ALL THESE HOTELS HAVE BEEN BUILT ON MAIN THOROUGHFARES THAT TRANSGRESSED THE CITY.
NONE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY WHERE CHILDREN WALK OR RIDE THEIR BICYCLES TO SCHOOL.
ACTUALLY, THIS MAY BE THE FIRST HOTEL IN BROWARD COUNTY TO BE BUILT IN A WELL ESTABLISHED, RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED ONE IN PEMBROKE PINES, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE HOUSES ARE BUILT AROUND THE HOTEL.
MY NEXT THING IS, WHY IS THIS HOTEL EVEN BEING CONTEMPLATED? WELL, I KNOW THE REASON.
IT'S BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL THINKS TAMARAC IS GOING TO BECOME A GOLF MAKER, SO HE CAN GAIN A WINDFALL FROM SELLING SOME OFF SOME OF THE PIECE OF THE GOLF COURSE.
SOMETHING HE'S BEEN TRYING TO DO SINCE HE FIRST BOUGHT THE COURSE.
TAMARAC CITY COMMISSIONS HAVE A LONG-STANDING HISTORY OF BEING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ISSUES BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND CITIZENRY.
THIS TIME, BE SURE YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO. THANK YOU.
NOW WE WILL GO TO JUAN MANUEL TORRES, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JUAN MANUEL TORRES, 8040 BUTTONWOOD CIRCLE, TAMARAC, FLORIDA, 33321.
I'M FIRMLY IN OPPOSITION TO THE BUILDING OF THIS HOTEL.
MARLON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FIERCE SUPPORT OF YOUR CITIZENS.
DEBORAH, THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO MY EMAILS; MICHELLE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO ME TODAY; MIKE, I ALREADY TOLD YOU FROM THE BEGINNING YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ME; AND ELVIN, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME.
SECOND, AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MR. KARIM SAID THAT MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY CHILD WERE INFLAMMATORY AND INCENDIARY AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO HIM BECAUSE HE COMMENTED AFTER I SPOKE.
BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, SIR, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISCOUNT MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY OWN CHILD. HOW DARE YOU? IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE DOING YET AGAIN TODAY BY DISCOUNTING EVERYTHING THAT THE CITIZENS OF TAMARAC AND WOODMONT ARE PRESENTING AS VALID CONCERNS.
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISCOUNT WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS HERE.
I'M SURE HE'S GOING TO COUNTER THAT.
ANYWAY, EVERYBODY HAS SAID WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITION TO THIS HOTEL.
I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON ONE: CHILDREN.
I DON'T CARE THAT STATISTICS SHOW THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED ANYWHERE.
RIGHT NOW TODAY, THERE'S ZERO CHANCE THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE THIRD OR FOURTH FLOOR OF THE HOTEL, I'M A CHILD, YOU ARE IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH FLOOR AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME WALKING TO SCHOOL, WAITING FOR MY BUS OR BEING DROPPED OFF.
YOU ARE TAKING A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS ZERO RISK FOR A CHILD BEING EITHER ABDUCTED, MOLESTED, OR DRAWN INTO A SITUATION THAT HE OR SHE SHOULDN'T BE, TO A POSSIBILITY AND I HOPE THAT OUR LAWYER, SAM GOREN, I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE CONDUCTED A RISK ASSESSMENT OF WHAT LITIGATION WOULD COST IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ONE OF OUR CHILDREN.
I HOPE YOU'RE ADVISING THE CITY ON THAT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WERE YOU WERE SWORN IN? BY THE WAY, YOU WERE SWORN IN? YES?
>> YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR SETTING FOR THE RECORD.
WE WILL NOW GO TO GEORGE MONTERO.
>> MADAM MAYOR, GEORGE ALSO HAS SUBMITTED A VIDEO.
>> YES, MY TESTIMONY IS PRETTY MUCH THE VIDEO.
[03:30:03]
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT BUT IF THEY WANT TO ROLL THE VIDEO.>> ONE THING ABOUT NOT BEING AN EFFECTIVE PARTY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING ANYBODY ASK YOU QUESTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU JUST GET TO SPEAK.
IS THE VIDEO OF THREE MINUTES? OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND YOU WERE SWORN IN [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE RECORD AND THIS WILL BE SUBMITTED INTO EVIDENCE AS YOURS.
[NOISE] FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, I'VE LIVED ON BLACK OLIVE AVENUE IN WOODMONT, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE NINTH FAIRWAY FROM THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB.
IT'S QUIET AND SECLUDED AND A SAFE PLACE MY NEIGHBORS AND I CHOSE TO RAISE OUR KIDS AND BUILD OUR FAMILIES.
BUT I'M AFRAID THAT WILL ALL CHANGE IF THE PROPOSED MULTI-STORY BUDGET HOTEL IS STABBED IN THE HEART OF OUR QUIET LITTLE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE OF OUR BACKYARDS.
THIS IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE SHOULD THE WOODMONT HOTEL BE APPROVED.
WOULD YOU WANT AN EYESORE LIKE THAT NEAR YOUR BACKYARD? TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE UPPER FLOORS WILL HAVE AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW, NOT JUST OF OUR KIDS PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD, BUT INTO OUR LIVING ROOMS, OUR FAMILY ROOMS, AND YES, EVEN OUR BEDROOMS. THE OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WILL BE EQUALLY EXPOSED.
IF HOTEL GUESTS FEEL SO INCLINED, THEY CAN WALK FROM THE POOL AREA ACROSS THE FAIRWAY AND BE IN MY BACKYARD IN LESS THAN A MINUTE, OR ANY OF THE OTHER BACKYARDS ON THE GOLF COURSE.
IT'S NOT JUST VISIBLE FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK OUR PROPERTY VALUES WILL DECLINE AS A RESULT? WE DIDN'T INVEST OUR LIFE SAVINGS IN WOODMONT TO HAVE IT STOLEN BY GREEDY DEVELOPERS WHO DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY ARE DESTROYING.
BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR VIEW AND OUR PRIVACY, IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR KIDS.
THE HOTEL WILL BE LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF 75TH STREET IN LAGOS DE CAMPO, NEAR THE SCHOOL BUS STOP, RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE BIKE PATH, AND SIDEWALK WHERE KIDS FROM ALL THE WOODMONT NEIGHBORHOODS WALK AND RIDE THEIR BIKES TO SCHOOL.
NOW, THEY'LL BE PASSING RIGHT IN FRONT OF AN EVER-CHANGING GROUP OF TRANSIENT STRANGERS WHOSE ONLY RESTRICTION WILL BE THE COST OF A ROOM.
CAN THIS BOARD OR THIS CITY GUARANTEE ME OR ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT NOT ONE OF OUR CHILDREN WILL BE LURED INTO ONE OF THOSE 120 ROOMS ON THEIR WAY TO OR FROM SCHOOL? OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T. BUT IT'S YOUR JOB TO ENSURE THAT SUCH HAZARDS AREN'T PERMITTED TO INVADE OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY.
THIS BEAUTIFUL, SECURE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I AND MY NEIGHBORS HAVE INVESTED OUR LIVES AND SAVINGS IN, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE DEPRECIATED BY GREEDY DEVELOPERS WHO SEEK TO PROFIT FROM OUR LOSS, NOR SHOULD THE CITY GOVERNMENT BE ALLOWED TO TOSS ITS CITIZENS UNDER THE BUS FOR THE FEW EXTRA TAX DOLLARS A BUILDING LIKE THIS MAY OR MAY NOT GENERATE.
I IMPLORE THE CITY COMMISSION NOT TO CORRUPT THE NATURE OF THIS QUIET FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A MULTI-STORY EXTENDED STAY HOTEL, THE LIKES OF WHICH CAN ONLY BE FOUND AT THE END OF THE TURNPIKE IN FLORIDA CITY, ACROSS FROM THE DAYS INN.
WOODMONT IS BETTER THAN THAT, AND MY NEIGHBORS AND I BEG THE CITY COMMISSION TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
[NOISE] WE WILL NOW TURN TO DAVID, I APOLOGIZE, CROLAND CORTES? AM I READING? IS THERE A DAVID HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK THAT I'M BUTCHERING THE LAST NAME? GOING NEXT TO RON WASSERMAN.
NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONFIRM YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS RONALD J. WASSERMAN.
I LIVE AT 8577 JADE DRIVE, TAMARAC 33321.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LIVING IN OUR HOME FOR 22 YEARS.
[03:35:02]
IN 2006, WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB WAS SOLD.FROM 2006-2011, WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB WAS PUSHED INTO THE GROUND AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS WERE PROPOSED, TOWNHOUSES, A WAWA, A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
I'M A VICTIM OF THE PULTE BUILD-OUT.
A LOT OF YOU GOT YOUR GRASS CUT BEHIND YOUR HOUSE.
BUT WE TOOK PART OF THE PULTE BUILD.
WHAT I FOUND, AND A LOT OF YOU WILL REALIZE THIS IF THIS GETS APPROVED, THE PRE-PROBLEMS WITH THIS BUILD-OUT.
THE DEVELOPER SAID A YEAR AND A HALF, COLONY WEST IS BEING BUILT FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THIS, THE CITY KNOWS IT BECAUSE I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, THEY WILL BREAK CODE.
START AT 7:00 AM, WE BID 8:00.
THEY WILL LET TOXIC SUBSTANCES GO.
THEY WILL TRESPASS AND BELIEVE ME, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL TELL YOU, "SOMEONE'S IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I'VE HAD A PROBLEM.
THEY TRESPASS." I LIVE OFF OF PINES 5, AND WE'VE HAD TRESPASSING BACK THERE LEFT AND RIGHT.
BY THE WAY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK THAT IT'S A DOG-WALKING PARK OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S NOT.
IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY BACK THERE.
WE REALIZED THAT FROM MR. SCHMIDT.
HE'S DONE NOTHING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
HE WILL NOT HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
COMMISSIONERS, I THINK EVERY ONE OF YOU REALIZES THAT.
I'VE SPOKEN TO EVERY ONE OF YOU EXCEPT ELVIN VILLALOBOS.
SO GUYS, TURN THIS DOWN IF YOU CAN.
I LIVE SO FAR AWAY FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT I AM CONCERNED FOR TAMARAC.
TAMARAC, A LOT OF YOU SEE THE COURSE WITH THESE TEMPORARY CAR PATHS.
THAT'S SCHMIDT AND HE WANTS TO BLAME IT ON EVERYBODY ELSE.
HE WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH ANYBODY.
HE'S SUING OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
DO YOU FOLKS KNOW THAT? I HOPE YOU DO. THIS GUY IS A REAL CHARACTER.
WE WILL NOW TURN TO ALAN STODDARD.
NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONFIRM YOU'VE BEEN SWORN IN, PLEASE. THREE MINUTES.
MY ADDRESS IS 8617 NORTHWEST, 82ND STREET.
EACH ONE OF YOU HAS BEEN ELECTED BY THE RESIDENTS.
EACH ONE OF YOU ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS.
IT'S VERY OBVIOUS, WE ALL SAY NO.
SO IF YOU ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES, THEN YOU SHOULD SAY NO.
IN FACT, I WOULD ASK THAT ANY ONE OF YOU RIGHT NOW, WOULD PUT A MOTION TO SAY NO HOTEL EVER. WILL YOU DO THAT?
>> WE CAN'T DO THAT AT THE [INAUDIBLE] AND THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING, SO WE NEED YOU TO.
>> OKAY. WELL, WHEN WILL IT BE DONE? WHEN WILL ANY OF YOU SAY NO?
>> THIS IS NOT A BACK AND FORTH AT THIS TIME.
THIS IS FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. OKAY.
>> OKAY, THAT'S MY COMMENT. AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE IT'S GONE THIS LONG AND YOU HAVE ALLOWED IT TO GO THIS LONG, I ALREADY KNOW YOUR ANSWER OBVIOUSLY TO SPEAK.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT YOUR RESIDENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT, YOU NEED TO VOTE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OTHER DISTRICTS.
YOU ARE OUR DISTRICT THE OTHERS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RESIDENCE, YOU NEED TO SUPPORT US AND WE'LL SUPPORT YOU. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE WE GO TO 1,
[03:40:02]
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, MORE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE SIGNED UP, AND THEN FACEBOOK AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.SINCE WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT WE END OUR MEETINGS AT 11:30, I DO NOT WANT TO BUTT UP AGAINST THAT, AND SO I AM ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO EXTEND THIS MEETING TO AT LEAST 12:30, TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR THE FINISH OF THIS MATTER, SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO ROLL THIS OVER TO ANOTHER DAY.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WILL SUPPORT THAT MOTION AND PUT IT FORTH? I NEED A SECOND IF THEY WILL.
>> MADAM MAYOR I WOULD LIKE TO MODIFY THAT MOTION TO WRAP UP THIS ITEM WHENEVER IT FINISHES, EVEN IF IT FINISHES AT 05:00 AM.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT SHOULD BE HELD CAPTIVE TO 12:30, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK AND FORTH WHEN 12:30 COMES, 1:30 COMES, I THINK WE SHOULD EXTEND IT UNTIL WE REACH A RESOLUTION.
>> I WILL MODIFY MY MOTION AND THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR DISCUSSION, IS THERE A NEED FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY. I AM QUITE CONTENT WITH THAT AS WELL.
SO IF YOU WOULD CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU, WHICH WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS A RESTROOM BREAK AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO WE WILL NOW PROCEED ON TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO REPEAT FOR THE RECORD THAT MR. RICHARD GAYNOR, 7729 BANYAN WAY WHO HAS BEEN SWORN IN AS STATED THAT HE HAS NOTHING ELSE TO SHARE, HE'S BEEN WELL-REPRESENTED BY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN HERE AND HE IS NOT ON SUPPORTED THE HOTEL.
IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NAME, ADDRESS, AND WE KNOW YOU WERE SWORN THAN WE THOUGHT.
>> MY NAME IS JENNIFER THOMAS, 7524, BLACK ALL OF ABOVE.
MAJOR FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING SO PLEASE JUST BEAR WITH ME.
>> GIVE ME ONE SECOND WHILE YOU DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CLOCK RESET FOR THE THREE MINUTES, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT. I THINK AS A RESIDENT OF WOODMONT WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED HOTEL, THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT I MAKE MY OPPOSITION KNOWN.
ON TOP OF BEING A GENERALIZED SOAR, THE HOTEL WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT MY FAMILY'S QUALITY OF LIFE, AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THOSE WHO LIVE NEAR IT IN THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY.
AS MY HOUSE IS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE GOLF COURSE OF THE PROPOSED SITE, I WILL BE SUBJECTED TO LIGHT POLLUTION AT NIGHT AS THE HOTEL WILL BE LIT UP CONSTANTLY, NOISE POLLUTION DURING THE DAY FROM ALL THE PEOPLE OUTDOORS USING THE PROPOSED AMENITIES OR ATTENDING OUTDOOR EVENTS SUCH AS WEEKEND BARBECUE PARTIES HELD BY THE POOL, AND MY PRIVACY AND SERENE VIEW WILL BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
I WOULD LIVE IN FEAR OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SEE INTO MY BEDROOM AND LIVING ROOM REGARDLESS OF IT BEING DAY OR NIGHT UNLESS I HAVE MY BLINDS DRAWN AND I WOULD NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE VIEW OUT OF MY OWN BACKYARD.
WHY SHOULD HOTEL GUESTS ENJOY MORE COMFORTABLE WEEKEND EVERY WEEKEND, THAN THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE HERE? IN ADDITION TO WHAT SOME MAY CALL THESE TRIVIAL COMPLAINTS, THE CRIME RATE IS ALSO GUARANTEED TO GO UP.
THE HOTEL IS NOT GOING TO BE AN UPSCALE DESTINATION RESORT, IT WILL BE A TYPICAL MIDDLE OF THE PACK HOTEL.
BUSINESS TRAVELERS IN GENERAL WILL NOT SEEK OUT THIS HOTEL AS THEIR DESTINATION BURIED AS IT IS WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FAR FROM RESTAURANTS IN ANY TYPE OF NIGHTLIFE.
I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT AS I'M ALSO A SEASONED BUSINESS TRAVELER AND I WOULD BE HORRIFIED IF THAT WAS WHERE I WAS PUT UP TO STAY BY MY COMPANY.
ALSO HOW MANY VACATIONERS DO REALLY THINK OF DYING TO FIND A HOTEL BURIED DEEP INSIDE OF WOODMONT ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THERE IS ALREADY GOING TO BE ANOTHER HOTEL ON THE COLONY WEST GOLF COURSE.
TO ATTEMPT TO HAVE TWO NEW COMPETING HOTELS IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY IS ASININE.
DO YOU REALLY EXPECT THAT THEY WILL BOTH BE FILLED TO CAPACITY ON A REGULAR BASIS? I THINK NOT. WHAT IT WILL BRING IS THE LOWER CLASS OF
[03:45:03]
PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE COMPLETE DISREGARD OF WHAT WOODMONT IS.THERE WILL BE INCREASED SPEEDING WHICH IS ALREADY AN ONGOING CONCERN ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IT IS A SCHOOL ZONE ON THE CORNER.
IT WILL BRING MORE CRIME TO THE AREA AS THE CARS IN THE PARKING LOT WILL BE EASY TARGETS FOR THIEVES WHO WILL ALSO THEN BEGIN TO TRY THEIR LUCK AT BREAKING INTO THE HOUSES IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AS IN ANY HOTEL, THE POSSIBILITY OF PROSTITUTION CANNOT BE IGNORED.
THE ORDINANCES WERE PUT IN PLACE FOR A REASON AND TO DISREGARD THOSE REASONS IS TO DISREGARD WHAT MAKES WOODMONT SUCH A SPECIAL COMMUNITY.
A HOTEL BELONGS ON A MAIN ROAD, IT HAS NO BUSINESS BEING IN THE EPICENTER OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS ZERO BENEFIT TO ANY OF THOSE THAT ALREADY LIVED THERE.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL DO TO THE RESALE VALUE OF MY HOUSE, AND I KNOW I NEVER WOULD'VE BOUGHT MY HOUSE IF I KNEW THERE WOULD BE A HOTEL GOING IN THERE, I GUARANTEE THE SAME CAN BE SAID. THANK YOU.
WE ARE NOW, [INAUDIBLE] , IS [INAUDIBLE] HERE? I'M NOT USED TO HIM GOING BY RE.
[LAUGHTER] SORRY, BOB, I'M USED TO BOB.
I LIVE AT 8772 NORTHWEST 75TH COURT, TAMARAC 33321.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE YOU VOTE.
DOES ANYBODY ON THE PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDED THIS TO YOU, LIVE IN WOODMONT?
>> WE'LL ALLOW YOU TO ASK A QUESTION, WE CAN'T [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M JUST SAYING, THESE ARE THINGS I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT.
BEFORE I CAME HERE, I GOT MY CAR AND I DROVE FROM 75TH AND 80TH AVENUE OVER TO THE HOTEL AT COLONY WEST, IT'S EXACTLY 1.2 MILES.
WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER HOTEL JUST OVER A MILE? WHY DO WE NEED SOME LIKE THAT? THESE ARE THINGS I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT.
WOULD YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR BACKYARD? WE'VE BEEN GOING AROUND WITH SCHMIDT FIELD FOR WHAT, 10-15 YEARS NOW.
EVERYTHING HE PROMISES, HE LIES ABOUT.
HE DOESN'T LIVE UP TO ANYTHING HE'S EVER TOLD US HE'S GOING TO DO, EVER.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE WE CONSIDER THIS.
THE TRAFFIC ON 80TH AVENUE AND ON 78TH STREET AND ON 75TH STREET IS GOING TO BE HORRENDOUS.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN WHEN THEY WANT TO BUILD THIS HOTEL? HAS ANYBODY EVER GONE OVER TO THE EXTENDED STAY ON COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD AND LOOK AT THE PARKING LOT IN THE EVENING OR IN THE AFTERNOON AT ALL THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND THE BOATS? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER HERE.
DO WE REALLY WANT THIS? I DON'T, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE DOES. THANK YOU.
I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO ASK FOR A BETTER LIGHT UP HERE, [LAUGHTER] OR A NEW GLASSES, OR CONTACTS.
I THINK I NEED A NEW CONTACTS.
THREE MINUTES. NAME, ADDRESS, PLACE, AND CONFIRM YOU'VE BEEN-
MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] RAMIREZ.
I LIVE AT 8725 NORTHWEST 75TH PLACE IN WOODMONT, OF COURSE.
MY QUESTION IS TO THE APPLICANTS.
DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH ALL THAT FIVE ROW OF TREES AND WHY YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ALL THAT DIM LIGHTS? BECAUSE IT DOES NOT BELONG THERE.
THERE IS AN UNDENIABLE ADVERSE EFFECT BUILDING A COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR TO THE RESIDENTS.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING THAT LONG ABOUT IT. EXCUSE ME.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2006.
I JUST MOVED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY IN 2010, AND IT WOULD JUST BE OUT OF PLACE.
FOUR STOREYS IN THAT LITTLE SPACE, IT LOOKS REAL NICE IN THE GRAPHICS.
BUT IF YOU GO STAND IN GEORGE'S BACKYARD,
[03:50:02]
IT ALMOST LOOKS THE SIDES OF THE PICTURE THAT'S IN HIS VIDEO.THERE ARE UNDENIABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS BUILDING THAT BUILDING IN THAT PLACE.
EXCUSE ME. I'M NERVOUS WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. WE DON'T BITE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
>> I THINK YOU GUYS ALL KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS HERE.
>> THANK YOU, AND TO YOU. THANK YOU.
I GOT TO THE TWO OF YOU TOGETHER BUT I DIDN'T HEAR PART OF WHAT YOU SAID.
[BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] I NEED YOU TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE.
>> SORRY MADAM MAYOR, FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, THE SPEAKER DOES NEED TO COME FORWARD, IDENTIFY HERSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE WHY THEY CAN'T ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, THE PROCEDURES OF THE QUASI-JUDICIAL MEETING.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T WANT QUESTIONS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MY NAME IS AIDA FARFAN, I LIVE IN 7780 NORTHWEST 79TH AVENUE.
>> THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU SAY YES TO THE HOTEL IS MOVING TO ANOTHER CITY. IT'S NO CHOICE.
BECAUSE I MOVED IN TAMARAC, BECAUSE I LOVED TAMARAC.
I LOVE THE TREES, I KNOW THAT THE PERSONS, I LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT YOU SAY YES TO THE HOTEL, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO LIVE IN TAMARAC.
THE ONLY WAY IS SELL MY HOUSE AND I MOVE IN TO MY SONS BECAUSE MY SON NEED SECURITY AND BELONGING TO.
SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH, [OVERLAPPING] BUT I THINK THERE'S NO OTHER WAY.
>> YOU ARE VERY CLEAR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. IAN HERNANDEZ.
>> I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER GALEN HAD A QUESTION, MADAM MAYOR, AND I LIKE THE ANSWER AS WELL.
>> WILL YOU ANSWER, MS. CALLOWAY? APPRECIATE IT.
>> I WILL, I'M JUST GOING TO LET MR. HERNANDEZ KNOW THAT IF YOU GIVE US ONE SECOND, THERE'S A QUESTION THAT IS BEING POSED TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE DO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
>> CERTAINLY. PUBLIC SPEAKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AS PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AFFECTED PARTIES HAVE A DIFFERENT ROLE TO PLAY.
THEY'RE AFFECTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CODE BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE PROJECT AND THEY ARE ABLE UNDER THE CODE TO ASK QUESTIONS OR HAVE QUESTIONS ASKED OF THEM.
PUBLIC SPEAKERS ONLY MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THAT'S THE PREMISE IN A CITY CODE THAT GOVERNS QUICK JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
>> NOT THAT YOU'RE OFFENSIVE, BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER.
JUST THE CODE DISALLOWS THAT SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RESPONSE.
>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, DOES THE CODE MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR COVER ANYTHING REGARDING APPLAUSE IN A COMMISSION MEETING?
>> NO. THE CITY HAS A RICH HISTORY OF MAINTAINING DECORUM AND CIVILITY DURING THE COURSE OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH SOMETHING WOULD SHOW IS CONTROLLED BY ALL OF YOU IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROCEEDINGS SO YOU'RE CORRECT.
>> IF THE COMMISSION WANTED TO ALLOW AN APPLAUSE, THEN WE CAN VOTE ON THAT.
>> YOU CAN CHANGE THE CODE IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AGAIN, THE COMMISSION HAS A RICH HISTORY OF BEING ABLE TO BE CIVIL AND OTHERS BEING CIVIL BACK IN THE CODE.
>> TO ADD TO THAT, THROUGH THE CHAIR, [OVERLAPPING] REVISING THE CODE IS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT SO WE WILL DISCUSS IT.
>> IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
[OVERLAPPING] THE ONLY THING LEFT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, THE EXTENSION WAS TO HEAR WOODMONT.
EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE ROLLED OVER TO THE JANUARY MEETING.
>> CURRENTLY, MR. HERNANDEZ, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONFIRM YOU HAVE BEEN SWORN IN.
>> THANK YOU. IAN HERNANDEZ, I HAVE BEEN SWORN IN.
7780 NORTHWEST 79TH AVENUE, SAME AS MY MOM.
FOR ME SPECIFICALLY, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I ACTUALLY ATTENDED TAMARAC ELEMENTARY FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH GRADE, I REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT SCHOOL TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE FOR TAMARAC RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS SUCH AS MY PARENTS.
WITH THIS BEING CONSIDERED, I LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY GAVE THEIR PRESENTATION, THEY MENTIONED TWO EXAMPLES FROM ARIZONA WITH
[03:55:02]
NO OVERARCHING EVIDENCE FROM EITHER OF THE SCHOOLS IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF NEARBY RESIDENTS.NOW, TO SUM THAT UP, WHAT THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY SAYING IS THAT WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE SO YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH US DOING IT AGAIN, BUILDING A HOTEL SO CLOSE TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
FURTHERMORE, I MYSELF, OF COURSE, MADE THE WALKING COMMUTE TO AND FROM THE SCHOOL AND BONAIRE.
FRANKLY, THE NATURE OF THAT COMMUTE IS WHAT MADE BONAIRE AND WOODMONT SO APPEALING TO MY PARENTS.
A COMMUNITY WITH SLOW TRAFFIC AND A PRESERVATION AREA OR WRITE DOWN 80TH, FULL OF NATURAL FOLIAGE AND NOT LANDSCAPED TREES.
A HOTEL OPENS THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY UP TO DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ENTIRELY UNWANTED BY THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT 4.
AS RE-ELECTION APPROACHES IN 2022 FOR ALL OF YOU, I ASK OF YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS ROOM WHO CLEARLY UNANIMOUSLY DON'T APPROVE OF THIS CONSTRUCTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAS NOT SIGNED UP WHO WISHES TO SPEAK?
>> JUST ONE MORE PERSON THAT'S SIGNED UP, J. KUTCHER.
WE ALSO HAVE ONE LAST VIDEO TO PLAY.
[BACKGROUND] PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> WOULD IT BE PERMISSIBLE FOR YOU TO SPEAK FROM BACKGROUND?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE TAPING AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VIRTUAL SO WE DO NEED YOU TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.
JAY CAPTURE (PHONETIC) 8173, ROYAL PALM COURT, TAMARAC.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT, EVERYONE PRECEDINGLY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF TELLING YOU HOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS FEEL.
THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT I COULD POSSIBLY ADD TO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS DONE.
AND THIS WAS NOT INTENTIONAL. [INAUDIBLE]
>> I HOPE THAT YOU'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE] I HOPE THAT YOU DO AT THIS MEETING, DECIDE THAT WE REALLY DON'T NEED ANOTHER MAJOR ISTORE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.
REALISTICALLY THANK YOU, AND I HOPE IT'LL BE A GREAT OUTCOME. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
NOW, I WOULD BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT VIDEO.
IF YOU CAN PLEASE INTRODUCE IT, AND DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE]
>> HI, MY NAME IS DINO CORNRICK (PHONETIC).
I LIVE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC, AND I FORMALLY SUPPORT THE HOTEL [INAUDIBLE]
>> WELL THAT WAS SHORT. [LAUGHTER] OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY. THEN AT THIS TIME, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE CLOSED IN THE AUDIENCE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED ONLINE, FACEBOOK, EMAILS.
CITY CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ INTO THE RECORD THAT WHICH YOU HAVE TO READ IN.
>> MY APOLOGIES, BUT I THOUGHT YOU SAID EVERYBODY SIGNED UP, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS.
>> I JUST NEED TO ASK A PROCEDURAL QUESTION BECAUSE AS WE'VE STATED, THIS IS QUASI JUDICIAL.
SO CITY ATTORNEY, IF THEY WISH TO STAND AND SAY THEIR OPPOSITION OR IN SUPPORT, DO I NEED TO STILL HAVE THEM SIGN IN WITH ADDRESS AND BE SWORN IN?
THEY WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, AND INDICATE WHETHER THEY SUPPORT OR OPPOSE.
THAT'S WHAT THE CODE SECTION WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DO.
>> WE KNOW IT'S NOT ANCIENT ROME.
>> NO, NO, NO. PLEASE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> PLEASE. [OVERLAPPING] PLEASE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BY A QUICK SHOW OF HANDS,
[04:00:04]
HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO DO A YES OR NO? THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY SPOKEN.LET'S KEEP IT TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT ALREADY SPOKEN.
ONE, TWO, THREE, YOU'VE SPOKEN, FOUR, FIVE.
OKAY. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROCEDURALLY DO THIS, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE SWORN IN.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE TESTIFYING WHETHER YOU'RE YES OR NO.
>> WHY DON'T YOU JUST ASK IF ANYONE IS IN FAVOR.
THAT COULD LIMIT IT AND THEY COULD BE SWORN IN.
>>OKAY. I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO NEED TO ASK YOU TO COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
BE SWORN IN, SAY I SUPPORT AND DON'T SUPPORT.
SO FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO'VE JUST RAISED THEIR HANDS, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE STAND.
THEN WE'LL GET YOU TO THE PODIUM.
SO EVERYBODY WHO'S GOING TO DO THIS, PLEASE JUST STAND FOR A MOMENT, AND LET'S RAISE YOUR HAND, AND THE CITY CLERK WILL SWEAR YOU IN.
>> AS A NOTARY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> IF YOU WOULD PLEASE NAME, ADDRESS, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE ALL BEEN SWORN IN, AND JUST SAY YES OR NO.
>> ANNA ROSEN, 8044 PRINCESS PALM CIRCLE, TAMARAC, FLORIDA. NO
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TO ALLOW FOR CLEANING.
WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 7554 BLACK OLIVE AVENUE, NO.
>> I KNOW SHE WORE HER MASK, BUT STILL. THANK YOU.
>> EVELYN WANDER, 8026 BUTTONWOOD CIRCLE, TAMARAC, AND I HAVE BEEN SWORN IN.
MAY I SAY SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO, NO?
>> YOU SURE CAN. YOU JUST HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO SO.
>> MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR HOUSE IN 2005 IN A BEAUTIFUL RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, VERY QUIET.
WE PAID ALMOST A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS FOR OUR HOME, AND WE PAY A LOT IN TAXES EVERY YEAR, NOT TO LIVE BESIDE A HOTEL.
MY DIVISION IS RIGHT, BUMPED UP TO WHERE THE COUNTRY CLUB AND THE HOTEL WILL BE.
>> HI. CATHERYN JOHNSON, 7352 NW 83RD WAY, TAMARAC.
I DO NOT WANT THE HOTEL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DIDN'T PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR RETIREMENT TO GET OUT AND SEE ALL THOSE CARS WHEN I'M TRYING TO WALK.
THE KIDS, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, BECAUSE SEVERAL TIMES I'VE HAD TO TELL THESE YOUNG KIDS TO MOVE BACK OFF THE CORNER, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CARS ARE DRIVING.
THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CARS NOW, COMPARED TO WHAT IT WOULD BE.
NO, I DO NOT WANT THE HOTEL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] I LIVE AT 8617 NW 82ND STREET, AND I HAD BEEN SWORN IN.
>> GOOD EVENING. YES. I'VE BEEN SWORN IN.
ROBIN MARSHMIN, 8030 BUTTONWOOD CIRCLE, TAMARAC, FLORIDA.
I WAS TELLING ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS EARLIER, I'VE HAD A FEW FRIENDS RECENTLY SAY TO ME, CAN YOU FIND ME A HOUSE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
[04:05:01]
I LOVE YOUR AREA.THEY WILL NOT MOVE IF I TELL THEM THAT THERE'S A HOTEL COMING.
IN FACT, I THINK ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS WILL PROBABLY MOVE OUT, AND THE HOUSE VALUE IS GOING TO GO DOWN DRASTICALLY.
DOMINIC RIVERA, 8009 BUTTONWOOD CIRCLE. I VOTE, NO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, IS EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE HAD THEIR POSITION REGISTERED AND SPOKEN, WHO'S WANTED TO SPEAK? EXCELLENT. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED AGAIN.
WE WILL NOW JUST READ INTO THE RECORD FACEBOOK, EMAIL, AND THE LIKE.
DO YOU WANNA DO THE PHONE CALLS BEFORE THE READING INTO THE RECORD? [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET'S DO THE PHONE CALLS FIRST.
>> SO THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST FOR PHONE CALLS WOULD BE LISA HAYDEN.
DID SHE NOT ANSWER? [BACKGROUND].
>> MADAM CLERK, YOU SAID LISA HAYDEN, RIGHT?
>> HELLO. THIS IS LISA HAYDEN.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW JOINING.
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS IS MICHELLE GOMEZ YOUR MAYOR ALONG WITH THE CITY COMMISSION.
WE HAVE YOU ON THE PHONE IN CHAMBERS REGARDING THE WOODMONT HOTEL.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW EXITING.
>> SHALL WE GO TO THE NEXT CALLER?
>> THE NEXT CALLER WOULD BE VANESSA WILLIAMS. [BACKGROUND]
>> MADAM CLERK, I HAVE A THOUGHT.
MAYBE WE CAN ASK OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK IF SHE CAN CALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT REMAIN.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW JOINING.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW EXITING.
>> WE CAN READ THE COMMENTS IN WHILE SHE CALLS?
>> WE'LL READ THE COMMENTS IN THE INTERIM.
>> THEN THERE'S TWO MORE ON THE LIST.
DID JIM SEND IT TO YOU? HE'S DEFINITELY READY TO TALK.
I HAVE QUITE A FEW COMMENTS TONIGHT THAT HAVE COME IN VIA E-MAIL AND BY FACEBOOK, SO BEAR WITH ME.
>> WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
>> [LAUGHTER] I HAVE QUITE A FEW COMMENTS THIS EVENING THAT CAME IN THROUGH E-MAIL AND CAME IN THROUGH FACEBOOK, SO BEAR WITH ME.
[04:10:02]
THIS ONE COMES FROM ROBERT FORTIER.I WOULD LIKE THIS READ AND BE READ ON THE RECORD FOR THE COMMISSION MEETING ON DECEMBER THE 9TH.
I LIVE AT 777 NORTHWEST 79TH STREET, TAMARAC.
I HAVE TWO ARTICLES I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS ON AIR.
ONE, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF MY COMMUNITY, AVALON ESTATES.
IN A RECENT SURVEY OF THE 46 HOMES HERE, 45 VOTED AGAINST A HOTEL DOWN THE STREET FROM US, ALL WITH THE SAME THOUGHT, THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES.
NUMBER TWO, SOME TIME AGO I ATTENDED A MEETING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO AN OVERFLOWED ROOM.
IN ATTENDANCE WAS THE DEVELOPER OF THE HOTEL AND AT LEAST 300 WOODMONT RESIDENTS WHO WERE CARRYING SIGNS EXPRESSING 'NO HOTELS', AND WERE SHOUTING OUT TO THESE DEVELOPERS.
THERE WAS DISGUST WITH SCHMIDT AND WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL SECTION OF TOWN CALLED WOODMONT.
I LIKE HUNDREDS OF MY NEIGHBORS, CANNOT EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW ADAMANTLY OPPOSED I AM TO THIS BUILDING. THANK YOU." THIS IS A SET OF PETITIONS THAT COMES FROM THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY THROUGH MARILYN BROWN WHICH SAYS, "DENY ANY AND ALL REQUESTS FOR A HOTEL TO BE BUILT ANYWHERE WITHIN OUR WOODMONT COMMUNITY.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A PROPOSAL UNDERWAY SUBMITTED BY DEVELOPER JUSTIN SCHMIDT TO BUILD A FOUR-STORY, 122 ROOM HOME 2 SUITES FRANCHISE UNDER THE HILTON BRAND.
THIS WILL BE AN EXTENDED STAY HOTEL CHAIN ADJACENT TO THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AT 7801 NORTHWEST 80TH AVENUE.
WE THE RESIDENTS OF LEISURE DEANS AND PALM RIDGE DO NOT WANT A HOTEL BUILT WITHIN OUR QUIET RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
THE HOTEL WILL PRIDE NO BENEFIT TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC WITH PATRONS, WASTE PICKUP, AND COMMERCIAL DELIVERIES IN TO THE HOTEL.
IN ADDITION, INCREASED NOISE AROUND THE AREA OF THE HOTEL, LIGHTS IN THE PARKING LOT ETC." [NOISE] THIS ONE COMES FROM ADAM REYNOLDS.
"GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ADAM REYNOLDS.
I LIVE IN LA RESERVE WOODMONT TRACT 70, JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE PROPOSED HOTEL.
I HAVE LIVED TAMARAC FOR OVER THREE YEARS, AND MY WIFE RUTH AND I CHOSE OUR HOME DUE TO THE QUIET RESIDENTIAL SETTING.
NEVER IN OUR WILDEST DREAMS DID WE EXPECT A HOTEL TO THE BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND BROWARD COUNTY IS NATURALLY INTERESTED IN REVENUE GENERATION FROM THE HOTEL.
DURING THE LAST MEETING, THE DEVELOPER MENTIONED THAT THE ROOM RATE IS $250 PER NIGHT, AND I BELIEVE 80 PERCENT CAPACITY IS ANTICIPATED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSION, THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT AN OVERSTATEMENT OR ALTERNATIVE FACTS, IF YOU WILL.
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS A NIGHT WOULD GET YOU A GREAT ROOM AT THE HARD ROCK CASINO OR MARGARITAVILLE IN FORT LAUDERDALE.
I DO NOT THINK A HOME 2 SUITES WILL GENERATE THAT SORT OF REVENUE.
IF IN FACT THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP OF A HOTEL ON SITE, THAT IS A MATTER THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN.
RATHER THE CITY OF TAMARAC SHOULD BE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE TO PURCHASE THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AS GREEN SPACE.
THE RECENT CITY OF TAMARAC DEVELOPMENT OF COLONY WEST IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODEL ON A MAJOR ARTERY, PINE ISLAND ROAD.
EIGHTIETH AVENUE IS NOT A MAJOR ARTERY.
I URGE THIS CITY COMMISSION TO STEER THE DEVELOPERS TO A MORE SUITABLE PROPERTY THAT IS ZONE COMMERCIAL, THAT DOES NOT NEED THIS VARIANCE TO EXIST, AND ELIMINATE THE ZONING VARIANCE THAT ALLOWED THIS PROJECT TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED.
IN A CLOSING THOUGHT, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION THAT RECEIVED A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM THE DEVELOPERS OF THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB, PLEASE CONSIDER THE ETHICS OF THIS CONTRIBUTION, AND RESPECTFULLY CONSIDER RECUSING YOURSELF FROM A VOTE ON THE MATTER.
RESPECTFULLY, ADAM REYNOLDS." THIS ONE IS FROM DAVID ROSES: "GOOD EVENING, COMMUNITY OF TAMARAC.
NOTE, MY E-MAIL SENT TO THE PLANNING [INAUDIBLE] WAS NOT READ.
ALTHOUGH WE ACCEPT THE CLUB'S RIGHT FOR DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PROPERTY, WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS MEETING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT, AND WELFARE CONCERNS OF THE WOODMONT COMMUNITY.
THE ADVERSE EFFECTS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A MORE PRECISE MANNER THAN WHAT IS NOTED IN BULLET NOTE FOR A DOCUMENT, CASE NUMBER 2-Z19 TEMP BOARD ORDER NUMBER 39, NOVEMBER 25TH, 2020 PAGE 4.
FOR THIS REASON, WITH MORE DETAILS AS NOTED BELOW, THE BOARD CANNOT ACCEPT THE DEVELOPMENT.
A HEALTHY COMMUNITY HAS SEVERAL ESSENTIAL NEEDS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
IN THIS CASE, NAMELY PUBLIC PARKS AND TRAILS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WOODMONT NATURAL AREA.
WE ARE IN A RECREATIONAL VOID FOR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T PLAY GOLF.
WITHOUT THIS CONTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY AND COMFORT, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
A SAFE COMMUNITY HAS MITIGATED FUTURE TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
A SITE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS TO OUR FAMILIES.
WHY THERE ARE PROTECTED SIDEWALKS AND TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES SUCH AS TRAFFIC CIRCLES ARE NECESSARY.
WE EXPRESS CONCERN THAT THE STUDY NEEDS TO INCORPORATE SPECIAL EVENTS AND ADDRESS MODERN-DAY RIDE-SHARING TRAFFIC.
DURING WEDDINGS, TOURNAMENTS, HOW MUCH TRAFFIC WILL COME FROM ATTENDEES STAYING IN LOCAL AIRBNBS? WITHOUT THIS CONCERN ADDRESS, THE COMMUNITY IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
LASTLY, THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
WHAT SOCIAL OFFERING CAN THE SITE PROVIDE? ARE THERE CULTURAL OFFERINGS? CAN COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION OR DONATION OF
[04:15:03]
ARTWORK BE INCLUDED WITH THE INTENTION OF INCREASING OUR LAND VALUE? WITHOUT THIS CONCERN ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED.WHEN THESE FACTORS OF THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS ARE MET, THE DEVELOPMENT CAN BE REVIEWED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION." FINALLY, THIS IS FROM THE WOODMONT ESTATES HOA PRESIDENT, MICHAEL MARTINEZ, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
"GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MICHAEL MARTINEZ, THE PRESIDENT OF THE WOODMONT ESTATES HOA.
THIS EMAIL SERVES TO INFORM YOU THAT AS A RESIDENT AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMUNITY OF WOODMONT ESTATES HOA, THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO HAVE A HOTEL BUILT IN THIS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
HAVING SPOKEN WITH MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, NO ONE HERE WANTS TO SEE THAT BUILT IN THIS AREA.
IT HAS NO AESTHETIC APPEAL TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IS A CONDUIT TO ALLOW ILLEGAL ACTIVITY SUCH AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PROSTITUTION, DRUGS, AND MOST ESPECIALLY, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS OF THE HOTEL THAT MAY POTENTIALLY BE SEX OFFENDERS WHICH MAY GO UNCHECKED.
AS I AM SURE MOST OF YOU ARE WELL AWARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL HOTELS ALREADY IN THE AREA.
NONE OF WHICH THAT ARE AT CAPACITY, AND NOW WITH YET ANOTHER BEING BUILT ON COLONY WEST.
THERE IS NO NEED TO FURTHER A PROJECT THAT WILL HAVE ILL EFFECTS ON THE VALUES OF OUR HOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR FAMILIES.
THIS PROPOSED HOTEL IS NOT IN THE COMMERCIAL QUARTER.
IT IS BEING PROPOSED IN THE MIDDLE AND HEART OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE ESSENCE OF WHAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS.
ON BEHALF OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WOODMONT ESTATES HOA, WE ASK RESPECTIVELY THAT THE COMMISSION VOTE NO." THIS IS FROM DAVID MUMFORD.
LET ME GO A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AS VOTING AGAINST THE HOTEL.
MY RESIDENCE IS AT 7820 BANYAN TERRACE IN THE ESTATES.
I'M ON THE 17TH GREEN, AND THIS WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE VIEW FROM MY PROPERTY, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND IT WILL ALSO DETRACT FROM THE HOME VALUE.
AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TAXPAYERS IN THE TAMARAC, I'M APPALLED WITH THE FOLLOWING; TONIGHT'S MEETING AND BOARD CONSUMING TWO HOURS, IN THE MEETING WITH A NON-AGENDA ITEM WAS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
MAXINE'S RUNNING OF THE MEETING TO APPROVE THIS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS RUN VERY POORLY.
WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB IS NOT A PREMIER GOLF DESTINATION.
I HAVE TRAVELED 250 DAYS A YEAR FOR 15 YEARS AND A HILTON DIAMOND MEMBER, I'VE NEVER STAYED AT A HOTEL LOCATED IN ANY GOLF COURSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THERE ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH HOTELS WITHIN TAMARAC.
USE [INAUDIBLE] AS AN EXAMPLE OF ULTIMATE FAIL.
HILTON PUT INTO A HOTEL THERE, AND IT FAILED, AND IT WILL FAIL, AND WOODMONT AS WELL.
THE CITY'S TAGLINE OF, THE CITY FOR YOUR LIFE IS A JOKE, WITH THE VISION THAT THIS CITY IS MOVING.
MY COMMENTS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE RECORD, AND MY FEELINGS AS A HOMEOWNER THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS HOTEL REQUEST.
FROM FACEBOOK, WE HAVE ALYSSA BROWN, ANYONE WHO PAID FOR A MEMBERSHIP AT WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB SINCE IT OPENED DECEMBER 2019? NO, SCHMIDT IS A CONMAN.
THEY DELIVERED NOTHING THAT WAS PROMISED.
THE HOTEL PROJECT WILL BE NO DIFFERENT.
ANDY BEDFORD, THE CLUBHOUSE STILL IS NOT COMPLETE SINCE ITS OPENING IN APRIL.
I GUESS THAT THEY CAN JUSTIFY WITH NO ATTENDANCE WHY THEY FEEL A HOTEL WILL JUSTIFY FINISHING THE DINING AREAS AND POOL AREA.
CINDY BIEBER LASER, MARK SCHMIDT [INAUDIBLE] DIDN'T WANT NEW HOMEOWNERS TO KNOW A HOTEL WAS COMING.
ALYSSA BROWN, THE SALE OF HIS OFFICE TOLD ME THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ANY HOTEL PLANS.
RIAN JOHNSON, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY INDEPENDENT EXPERTS THAT THE HOTEL HAS USED PREVIOUSLY TO DO THESE INDEPENDENT STUDIES, HAVE COME OUT WITH RESULTS OF A STUDY THAT WERE DETRIMENTAL TO THE HOTEL'S AGENDA, AND OF THOSE TWO DID REVEAL A DETRIMENTAL STUDY.
HOW MANY OF THEM WHEREVER USED AGAIN, BY THE HOTEL? FACT IS YOU CAN PAY SOMEONE TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT THIS HOTEL.
[INAUDIBLE] , THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL CREATE JOBS, INCREASE TAX REVENUE, AND INCREASE THE VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
DON'T USE PERSONAL ISSUES WITH SCHMIDT AS A REASON TO BLOCK THE WOODMONT HOTEL.
RIAN JOHNSON, WHO PUTS A HOTEL SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF A NICE AND QUIET RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY? THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE FORCED TO LIVE NEXT TO THIS THING, DON'T WANT IT.
COMMON SENSE SHOULD PREVAIL HERE.
ANDY BEDFORD, CREATE LOW PAYING JOBS.
WILL NOT BE A TAX GENERATING HOTEL IF YOU CANNOT GET PEOPLE TO STAY AT $250 A NIGHT, AND A HOTEL NEVER CAUSES HOME PRICES TO RISE.
ANDY BEDFORD, EVEN IF THE RATES ARE A $150 A NIGHT, CAN JUSTIFY HIGHER RATES BECAUSE OF GOLF COURSE.
WHO IS GOING TO STAY THERE EXCEPT GOLFERS? GOLF IS A DYING SPORT.
SHERRY [INAUDIBLE] I AM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS HOTEL.
I BOUGHT THE HOUSE THAT I LIVE IN FOR THE PRIME REASON THAT THE AREA IS TOTALLY RESIDENTIAL.
IT IS QUIET, MINIMAL TRAFFIC, WELL-MAINTAINED, AND FAIRLY SAFE.
I'M ALSO ANGERED BY THE FACT THAT THE TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION MEETING ALLOWED MORE THAN 45 MINUTES OF THIS MEETING TO BE ALLOWED AS A COMMERCIAL FOR THE DEVELOPERS AND FOR HILTON.
THE MEETING BEGAN AT 7PM AND WOODMONT RESIDENTS HAD TO WAIT ALL THIS TIME TO FINALLY SPEAK.
BAD MOVE TO TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION.
ANDY BEDFORD, I LIVE IN A [INAUDIBLE] HOME OWNED GOLF COURSE.
THREE NEIGHBORS DON'T PLAY THE COURSE, EVEN THOUGH HOA MAKES US PAY FOR IT.
[04:20:01]
DO NOT LIKE THE COURSE.SCOTT [INAUDIBLE] DON'T BUILD IT.
CINDY BIEBER LASER, DON'T BUILD IT IF YOU WANT TO SHIELD THE RESIDENTS.
RIAN JOHNSON, THOSE WHO VOTE FOR THIS HOTEL NEED TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.
SHERRY [INAUDIBLE] THERE IS A WOMAN SPEAKING RIGHT NOW WHO IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH.
ORIGINAL PLANS FROM 2006 NEVER MATERIALIZED.
BETTY ANNE WALTER [INAUDIBLE] KEEP IN MIND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE OUT ANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT VOTE FOR THE HOTEL.
THEY NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT.
RIAN JOHNSON, AND THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST THIS HOTEL AND NEED TO CULTIVATE A CANDIDATE IN THOSE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS TO REPLACE THOSE WHO DO VOTE FOR IT.
BETTY ANNE WALTER [INAUDIBLE] KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE OUT ANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT VOTE FOR THE HOTEL.
THEY NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT. I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE.
MICHELLE [INAUDIBLE] , CAN THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY DATA BE SHARED? CURIOUS ON THE OCCUPANCY RATES AND RATE ROOM RATES, WEEKENDS OR WEEKDAYS, AND END SEASON, OUT OF SEASON.
MARIA BELLOW, HOW ABOUT THE PETITIONS, E-MAILS AND SENT TO OUR COMMISSIONER, ALYSSA BROWN, SHE'S CORRECT.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS PROMISED WAS DELIVERED, AND HER ASSESSMENT OF THE SPACE IS SPOT ONE, THEN VENUE IS LOWSY AND OVERPRICED.
SHERRY [INAUDIBLE] I REMEMBER WHAT THE FORMER COUNTRY CLUB WAS LIKE AND HOW ELEGANT IT LOOKED.
SCOTT [INAUDIBLE] NO, JUST WOODMONT IS OPPOSED TO IT.
I HAVE BEEN HERE JUST OVER 20 YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY CLUB BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED SINCE THE NEW HOMES HAVE GONE UP.
CINDY BIEBER LASER, NO, ON MARK SCHMIDT, NO, ON THE HOTEL.
SCOTT [INAUDIBLE] THE APPLICANT IS AN ARROGANT BUILDER WHO WANTS WHAT HE WANTS, ALL OTHERS BE DAMNED.
ANDY BEDFORD, I WISH I WERE THERE ALSO TO TELL THE COUNCIL HOW [INAUDIBLE] NEVER DISCLOSED THE HOTEL, SO NOT TO DISCOURAGE HOME SALES.
ONE MORE. [LAUGHTER] SORRY, THEY KEEP COMING IN.
LAURA MAY HARRIS [INAUDIBLE] I VOTE NO TO THE HOTEL.
SCHMIDT IS JUST LOOKING FOR ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE MONEY THAT ONLY BENEFITS HIMSELF AND NOT THE COMMUNITY.
HE NEEDS TO WORK ON THE CC, THE BUILDING FURNISHINGS AND ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE PROFITS.
SHERRY [INAUDIBLE] MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE HOUSE IN 1986. I HAVE IT NOW.
IT'S AMAZING THAT IN ALL THESE YEARS UP TILL NOW ANYWAY, THE AREA HAS REMAINED AS LOVELY, QUIET, AND RESIDENTIAL AS IT WAS 34 YEARS AGO.
THE DEGRADATION BEGAN WHEN THIS NEW DEVELOPER BOUGHT IN.
I REMEMBER GOING TO SOME PLANNING MEETINGS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, VOICING MY DISSENT ABOUT THE PROPOSED HOUSING UNITS GOING UP.
LAURA MAY HARRIS [INAUDIBLE] IS THE LANDSCAPING GOING TO THE ENHANCED REPLACED BY THE GOLF CALLED ON 80TH ON 80ST? IT IS A DISGRACE.
ALSO, THE LANDSCAPE WILL PROTECT CARS AND PEDESTRIAN FROM GOLF BALLS.
I'VE PERSONALLY SEEN TWO GOLF BALLS CROSS ALL FOUR LANES OF 81ST.
ANDY BEDFORD, RECENTLY HAD TO COMPLAIN TO CITY TO GO AFTER THE COUNTRY CLUB TO LANDSCAPE AND TRIM TREES ALONG SOUTH GATE.
TREES MADE THE SIDEWALK NEARLY IMPASSABLE.THEY DID CLEAN UP, BARELY.
THE COUNTRY CLUB IS GAINING REVENUE BUT FAILS TO WORRY ABOUT THE PROPERTY OF LIMIT ISSUES. THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE KNOW IF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO BE CALLED ARE AVAILABLE?
LISA HAYDEN IS READY TO SPEAK [INAUDIBLE]
>> [NOISE] HI, THIS IS LISA HAYDEN.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW JOINING.
>> HI, MISS HAYDEN, THIS IS MICHELLE GOMEZ AND YOUR COMMISSION.
WE HAVE YOU ON SPEAKER FOR YOU TO BE HEARD AT THE CHAMBERS REGARDING THE WOODMONT HOTEL.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN THE CITY CLERK IS GOING TO SWEAR YOU IN AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR GOMEZ.
>> MY NAME IS LISA HAYDEN OF 8410 NORTHWEST 59TH COURT IN TAMARAC.
>> EXCELLENT. THE CITY CLERK WILL NOW SWEAR YOU IN.
>> [NOISE] AS A NOTARY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>>THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, PLEASE PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR GOMEZ AND SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMISSIONER PLACKO FOR USING ALL HER TECHNICAL POWERS TO ASSURE THAT I CAN BE HEARD TONIGHT.
MY HUSBAND, RAYMOND HAYDEN, AND I ARE OPPOSED TO THE WOODMAN HOTEL.
IN TO 2014, THE PEOPLE OF WOODMONT WERE TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO SAVE THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AND GOLF COURSE, THE EXISTING 99 YEAR COVENANT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROKEN.
BUT IT WOULD BE REWRITTEN WITH EXPRESSED ASSURANCES THAT NO FURTHER CONCESSIONS CONCERNING THE PROPERTY WOULD BE
[04:25:04]
GRANTED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF 75 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN 150 FEET OF THE NEW GOLF COURSE BOUNDARIES.THE IDEA THAT A FOUR-STORY HOTEL IS INCIDENTAL OR ANCILLARY TO THE COUNTRY CLUB IS AN EXCRUCIATING STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
I AM CERTAIN THAT THE WORLD HOTEL HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 2014 COVENANT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIERCE RESISTANCE FROM THE PEOPLE OF WOODMONT, AND I ALSO PRESUME RESISTANCE FROM THE CITY COMMISSION ITSELF.
IN 2014, MOST OF US WE'RE CONCERNED THAT BREAKING THE 99 YEAR COVENANT WOULD OPEN A PANDORA'S BOX, AND UNSURPRISINGLY, WE FIND OURSELVES HERE TODAY, FIGHTING TO KEEP WHAT WAS AGREED TO ONLY A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO.
GIVEN MANY DOUBTS THAT THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT HAVE HAD TO ENDURE FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS AND THE ASSURANCES THAT WERE MADE WHEN THE ORIGINAL COVENANT WAS ABANDONED, IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION WILL SEND THE CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THIS INCESSANT REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL CONCESSION WILL NO LONGER BE ENTERTAINED.
THE COMMISSION HAS THE POWER, THE ABILITY TO DO THIS TONIGHT BY UNANIMOUS VOTING AGAINST THE BUILDING THIS HOTEL IN WOODMONT PROPERTY.
WE ARE PLEADING WITH YOU TO TAKE THIS IMPORTANT STEP HERE AND NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, CONFEDERATION, AND WORKING THROUGH THE TECHNICAL GLITCHING.
>> WE DO. [INAUDIBLE] COULD CALL MICHAEL MARTINEZ.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW EXITING.
HE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE ON JIM'S LIST.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW JOINING.
>> HI, IS THIS MICHAEL MARTINEZ?
>> THIS IS MICHELLE GOMEZ, YOUR MAYOR AND YOUR CITY COMMISSIONERS HERE.
WE HAVE YOU ON SPEAKER IN THE CHAMBERS.
WE ARE CALLING YOU REGARDING THE WOODMONT ITEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND THEN THE CITY CLERK WILL SWEAR YOU IN, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. WELCOME TO THE MEETING.
MICHAEL MARTINEZ, 7615 BANYAN WAY IN WOODMONT ESTATES.
I AM THE WOODMONT ESTATES PRESIDENT, HOA.
>> MR. MARTINEZ, AS A NOTARY BEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> ON BEHALF OF WOODMONT ESTATES, THE HOA, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS IN WOODMONT ESTATES, WE ARE EMPHATICALLY AGAINST THIS HOTEL.
IT DOES NOT BRING OR DRAW TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MORE IT COULD BE STATED THAT WE DON'T WANT IT HERE.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'RE BRINGING IN UNVETTED PEOPLE INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, ARE THEY GOING TO BE REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS SHOWING UP?
[04:30:03]
I MEAN, DO WE HAVE ANY WAY TO SAY WHO'S COMING INTO THIS HOTEL? WE HAVE KIDS HERE.THIS IS A FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S RESIDENTIAL.
IT IS NOT A COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IT IS NOT ON A COMMERCIAL THOROUGHFARE.
NOBODY HERE WANTS TO SEE THAT HERE.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE UNVETTED PEOPLE, POTENTIAL PREDATORS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE KIDS ARE WALKING DOWN THAT SIDEWALK ALL THE TIME, THERE'S BUS STOPS THERE.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO KNOW WHO'S COMING IN, WHO'S NOT.
LET'S FACE IT, JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN COMMERCIAL AT THAT EXTENDED STAY, THEY HAVE EVEN HAD SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN MURDERED AT THAT PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MORE EMPHATICALLY WE CAN PUT THAT ACROSS.
NOBODY HERE IN THE ESTATES WANTS THAT, NOBODY HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT TO ANY OF US ON THE BOARD FOR THE HOTEL.
SO WE'RE EMPHATICALLY AGAINST IT, AND THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> UNKNOWN PARTICIPANT IS NOW EXITING.
>> THAT IS IT. WE WANT TO CONFIRM ONE MORE, BUT THAT SHOULD BE IT.
>> OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS CURRENTLY 11:57.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 12:10.
SO GOOD MORNING, AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE.
WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 12:10. THANK YOU.
[BACKGROUND] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO RESUME THE MEETING, IT IS 12:10.
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
WE WILL START WITH COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. LAUREN, CAN YOU TELL ME, IS THERE CURRENTLY ANY LITIGATION PENDING BETWEEN WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AND THE CITY?
>> THERE IS ONE, MADAM MAYOR. TO THE COMMISSIONER, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THE ANSWER IS YES, THERE'S A CURRENT LAWSUIT PENDING THAT WAS FILED BY THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AGAINST THE CITY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, THE CITY COMMISSION WAS REVIEWING THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE AGREEMENT REGARDING PERFORMANCE BY THE DEVELOPER.
THE DEVELOPER FILED SUIT AGAINST THE CITY CLAIMING A BREACH OF THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE CITY IS COUNTERSUED AS WELL.
SO THERE'S A PENDING LAWSUIT IN THE [INAUDIBLE] CIRCUIT COURT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE A APPLICANT ON THE LINE? CLOSER?
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
>> FIRST OF ALL, WHEN THIS ORIGINALLY STARTED, IT WAS A FIVE-STOREY HOTEL WITH 127 ROOMS. IT IS NOW A FOUR-STOREY HOTEL WITH 122 ROOMS. SO WE'VE LOST A STORY IN FIVE ROOMS. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT? ARE THE ROOMS SMALLER?
>> NO, THE ROOMS ARE THE SAME SIZE.
THE ROOMS ARE DICTATED BY HILTON, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO REDUCE THAT.
WE SIMPLY WILL ABSORB THE EXTRA COST INVOLVED.
THE EXTRA COST INVOLVED IS WHEN YOU GO TALLER, YOU HAVE LESS OF A FOOTPRINT IN FOUNDATION SO WE HAVE TO GO WIDER, AND WE HAVE FIVE LESS ROOMS AND WE WILL HAVE REVENUE FROM FIVE LESS ROOMS.
>> OKAY. BUT YOU DID GO WIDER INSTEAD OF GOING HIGHER?
WE HAD A WHOLE STORY TO ACCOUNT FOR, SO WE HAD TO FIT THAT INTO THE SITE.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT STAFF YOU'LL HAVE ON-SITE?
>> YES. WE WILL HAVE RECEPTION STAFF, CLEANING STAFF, A MANAGER, ETC.
THERE'S ABOUT 42 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS CREATED BY THE HOTEL.
>> WHAT STAFF WILL BE THERE 24/7.
>> RECEPTION, MANAGEMENT, THE NORMAL STUFF YOU WOULD HAVE IN A HOTEL.
>> SO THERE WILL BE STAFF MEMBER AT THE DESK 24/7?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE HOTELS WITHIN FIVE MILES, THAT'S 553 OTHER ROOMS AVAILABLE.
THEY ARE EITHER OFF THE HIGHWAY OR ON MAIN ROADS.
TRAVELERS ARE GOING TO SEE A HOTEL FROM THE HIGHWAY,
[04:35:01]
THEY'RE GOING TO STOP, THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT, THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD.BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STAY AT A HOTEL ON THE MAIN DRIVE WHERE THEY CAN WALK TO A RESTAURANT, THEY CAN WALK TO SHOPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO WHO'S YOUR MARKET? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DRAWING HERE?
>> THE MARKET WILL BE A MIX OF BOTH BUSINESS AND LEISURE TRAVELERS.
ON THE LEISURE SIDE, THEY COULD BE PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTENDING A WEDDING OR AN EVENT.
IT COULD BE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOLFERS, LET'S SAY, WITH A WEEK-LONG GOLFING PACKAGE, PEOPLE ATTENDING AT TENNIS CAMP OR TENNIS COURTS, ETC.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE MARKET THAT WE WOULD THROW.
THE OTHER PART WOULD BE BUSINESS TRAVELERS.
AS JOHN HAD MENTIONED, HILTON HAS OVER 110 MILLION HILTON HONORS MEMBERS.
IF YOU'RE A HILTON HONORS MEMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAY BE A MARRIOTT ON THE MAIN STREET, AGREED.
BUT YOU WILL TEND TO GO AND STAY WHERE A HILTON IS FOR ALL A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS, POINTS, LOYALTY, ETC.
BEFORE WE WENT AHEAD AND INVESTED WHAT WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED, WE WENT AND DID AN EXTENSIVE STUDY TO LOOK AT THE MARKET, THE GROWTH IN THE MARKET, AND THE ABSORPTION.
WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH 47 HOTEL PROJECTS, ALL SUCCESSFUL.
IF WE DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS DEMAND HERE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THE HOTEL HERE.
>> THANK YOU. HOW WOULD YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> SORRY, WE WON'T HAVE PROPOSED BUILDING THE THE HOTEL HERE.
>> HOW WILL THE GUESTS ACCESS THE HOTEL? ARE ALL AREAS OF THE HOTEL LOCKED AND ONLY ACCESSIBLE WITH THEIR KEY CARD?
>> YEAH. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
>> HOTEL, LIKE ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL BUILDING, USUALLY HAS SECURITY CAMERAS IN CASE THERE ARE EVER ANY INCIDENTS, THEN THEY CAN RECORD THAT.
>> USUALLY, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?
>> WHAT I MEANT TO SAY IS IT'S NORMAL.
SO HOTEL TOO WOULD HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS.
THAT WOULD BE A REQUIREMENT FROM HILTON.
>> IS SOMEONE MONITORING THEM?
>> TWENTY FOUR SEVEN? I DON'T MEAN PLAYING IT BACK AFTER AN INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED.
>> YES, THEY WOULD BE MONITORED BY A SECURITY SERVICE COMPANY.
>> NO. TYPICALLY, IT WOULD BE OFF-SITE.
>> YOUR GUEST WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE POOL AT THE COUNTRY CLUB, CORRECT?
>> WHAT IS THE CAPACITY LIMIT AT THE COUNTRY CLUB POOL?
>> I AM NOT SURE, TO BE QUITE HONEST, BUT IT IS SUFFICIENT.
TYPICALLY, THE POOL THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THE HOTEL WHICH I SHOWED IS SUFFICIENT FOR 122 ROOMS. HILTON REVIEWED THAT, APPROVED THAT, ETC.
THE POOL BECOMES AN ADDED AMENITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE OUTSIDE WHEN THE WEATHER IS GOOD, ETC., THAT THEY CAN USE IN ADDITION TO THE POOL THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THE HOTEL.
>> MS. CALLOWAY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CAPACITY IS AT THE COUNTRY CLUB POOL? UNMUTE.
NO, COMMISSIONER, WE DO NOT KNOW BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND THAT OUT.
>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW. MY CONCERN IS YOU HAVE 122 ROOMS. I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM AND SAY THAT THEY'RE RENTING HALF OF THEM.
THAT'S 60 ROOMS, EVEN IF THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON IN EACH ROOM, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA DAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GO SIT UP BY THE POOL TO GET SOME SUN.
SO YOU HAVE 60 GUESTS OUT AT THIS POOL WITH WHATEVER THE CAPACITY MAY BE.
OUR RESIDENTS IN THE PULTE HOMES ARE PAYING $200 A MONTH FOR A SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP WHICH ENTITLES THEM TO USE THE POOL.
IF THEIR CAPACITY HAS BEEN MET, THEN OUR RESIDENTS WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR.
SO THIS IS TAKING AWAY FROM OUR RESIDENTS FOR HOTEL GUESTS.
>> SORRY, IS THERE A QUESTION THERE WITH ME?
>> NO, I ASKED YOU AND THEN I WENT TO MAXINE.
BUT DON'T GO AWAY, I'M COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS YOU HAD WITH RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT?
[04:40:05]
>> YES. WE HAD COMMUNITY MEETING, ONE AT THE COUNTRY CLUB.
WE HAD THE OLD COUNTRY CLUB, WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING OUT AT CITY OF TAMARAC IN THE ROOM THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO US.
THOSE WERE TWO KEY MEETINGS THAT WE HAD WITH THE RESIDENTS, AND THEN WE HAD INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH THE HOA PRESIDENT [INAUDIBLE]
>> WHAT WAS THE MOOD OF THE RESIDENTS AT YOUR MEETINGS? THE MOOD AT BOTH MEETINGS WAS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAD CONCERNS WHICH THEY'VE EXPRESSED, TODAY AS WELL, ABOUT CRIME AND PROPERTY VALUES, ETC. SIMILAR VIEWS.
>> WE HAD A LETTER READ HERE TONIGHT FROM A RESIDENT THAT SAID HE WAS AT A MEETING AT, I BELIEVE HE SAID THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THE RESIDENTS WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS.
MS. CALLOWAY, DO YOU REMEMBER OUR CITY TOWN HALL MEETING ON MAY 29TH OF 2019 AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER?
>> CAN YOU TELL ME THE FEEL OF THE RESIDENTS AT THAT MEETING?
>> IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH MOST OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
>> DO YOU RECALL AT THAT MEETING, A RESIDENT STOOD UP AND SAID, "WHOEVER IS IN THIS ROOM WHO CURRENTLY IS AGAINST THE HOTEL, PLEASE STAND UP"?
>> DO YOU RECALL WHO STOOD UP?
>> PRACTICALLY THE ENTIRE ROOM.
>> OKAY. I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE PETITIONER ABOUT THIS PETITION THAT YOU ALL HAD.
I BELIEVE THIS WAS LOCATED AT THE COUNTRY CLUB SO PEOPLE COMING IN COULD SIGN IT.
>> OKAY. THAT'S WHERE WE HEARD TONIGHT THAT THERE WERE 80 PEOPLE WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF THE HOTEL.
>> YES, 79 TAMARAC RESIDENTS. YES.
>> THEY'RE NOT ALL TAMARAC RESIDENTS.
I HAVE GONE THROUGH EACH AND EVERY ONE.
WHOEVER COMES INTO THE COUNTRY CLUB, COMES INTO THE COUNTRY CLUB AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME THERE.
THEY ARE CORAL SPRINGS RESIDENTS THEY WERE FOR LOTTERY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
MY POINT IS I'D LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS MEANT BY NUMBER 4.
I SUPPORT 100 MILLION IN NEW TAX REVENUES.
I SUPPORT TO KEEP OUR TAXES FROM INCREASING.
I SUPPORT TO EMPLOY MORE POLICE OFFICERS, PARAMEDICS, AND FIREFIGHTERS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, PLEASE?
>> SURE. THE POINT I MADE EARLIER WAS THAT OVER A 50-YEAR TIME PERIOD, WHICH WOULD BE THE USEFUL LIFE OF A HOTEL LIKE THIS, WITH RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN EVERY FEW YEARS, THAT THEY WOULD BE BY OUR ESTIMATE, THERE WOULD BE INCREASED REVENUE.
AND SO WE MADE THE POINT TO WHOEVER WAS SIGNING THE PETITION THAT, THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE SUPPORTING AND INCREASE TAX REVENUES HELPS DECREASE OTHER PEOPLE'S TAX REVENUES, AND INCREASE TAX REVENUES IF THE CITY SO CHOSE, COULD BE USED TO EMPLOY POLICEMEN, PARAMEDICS, ETC.
THAT'S A CHOICE THAT THE COMMISSION MAKES OBVIOUSLY.
>> SO BY TELLING RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED THIS, I SUPPORT TO KEEP OUR TAXES FROM INCREASING.
I SUPPORT EMPLOYING MORE POLICE OFFICERS, PARAMEDICS, AND FIREFIGHTERS, IS THAT INSINUATING WITH YOUR HOTEL BEING BUILT THAT WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS, PARAMEDICS, AND FIREFIGHTERS?
>> NO. NOT NECESSARILY, BUT IF YOU HAPPEN TO NEED MORE, THEN THEY WOULD BE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
THAT'S A CHOICE THAT THE COMMISSION OR A FUTURE COMMISSION NEEDS TO MAKE DOWN THE ROAD.
>> EXACTLY. THE COMMISSION SETS THE CITY BUDGET ALONG WITH THE TAX RATE.
THE CITY MANAGER HIRES POLICE, FIRE PARAMEDICS WITH THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
DO YOU FIND THIS STATEMENT TO BE MISLEADING?
>> I DO. I FIND IT TO BE TERRIBLY MISLEADING THAT BY SIGNING THIS AND SUPPORTING THIS, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE LOWER TAXES AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND MORE PARAMEDICS AND MORE FIREFIGHTERS.
[04:45:02]
I REALLY FIND THAT TO BE TERRIBLY MISLEADING TO THE PUBLIC.AS FAR AS THE BENEFITS TO OUR RESIDENTS, I'VE HEARD TONIGHT THAT THEY CAN HAVE EVENTS THERE.
I'VE HEARD YOU'LL HAVE GENERATORS THERE AND I'VE HEARD THAT YOU'LL HAVE SPECIAL RATES TO WOODMONT RESIDENTS.
CAN YOU GIVE ME ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT?
>> YES, AN INCREASE TAX REVENUES, YOU HEARD THAT TOO.
>> OKAY. BUT LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT TAX REVENUE DOESN'T GO SPECIFICALLY TO WOODMONT, THAT CITY.
SO THAT'S NOT A BENEFIT TO WOODMONT.
I WANT TO KNOW BENEFIT TO WOODMONT SPECIFIC.
>> WOODMONT IS PART OF THE CITY, IS IT NOT?
>> IT IS, BUT I WANT TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE A BENEFIT.
>> I OUTLINED THAT IN THE PRESENTATION.
SO AT THE RISK OF REPEATING MYSELF, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR EVENTS TO BE HELD THERE AND FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO, LET'S SAY, HAVE A TENNIS MEMBERSHIP.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHEN VISITORS COME TO HAVE THEM STAY NEARBY.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR PART OF THE TAX REVENUE WOULD GO TO WOODMONT, THE REST MAY GO TO THE REST OF THE CITY.
SO THOSE ARE SOME KEY BENEFITS THAT I POINTED OUT.
>> OKAY. I DON'T SEE A LOT OF BENEFIT IN THAT.
YOU MADE A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE HOSPITAL, AND THE HOSPITAL WOULD USE THIS FOR EVENTS.
I AM HOPING THAT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WILL USE THE COUNTRY CLUB FOR EVENTS.
I SIT ON THE BOARD OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.
HOWEVER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PLAYS INTO THE HOSPITAL.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE STAYING AT THE HOSPITAL.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OUT-OF-TOWN CUSTOMERS COMING IN WHO WOULD BE STAYING AT THE HOSPITAL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP WITH YOU THAT I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. IF I CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
WE MET WITH SENIOR HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES AND WHAT THEY INDICATED IS THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE OUT OF TOWN PEOPLE TO COME IN.
THAT HAVING A HOSPITAL WHERE PEOPLE COULD STAY THE NIGHT BEFORE THEIR SURGERY OR WHEN THE DISCHARGE OR THE FAMILIES STAYING THERE WOULDN'T BE VERY HELPFUL.
IN ADDITION TO USING THE COUNTRY CLUB FOR EVENTS, ETC.
>> RIGHT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE THAT IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING INTO TAMARAC TO GO TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ON THE UPPER.
I THINK THAT'S A FABULOUS IDEA.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BREAK FOR A MINUTE AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO MS. CALLAWAY, OKAY? BUT DON'T GO AWAY.
>> OKAY. MS. CALLAWAY, I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
AND I'D LIKE TO READ A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
SAYS THE PURPOSE OF A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN USES WHICH CANNOT BE WELL ADJUSTED TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT, CANNOT BE WELL ADJUSTED TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
OFFERING FULL PROTECTION TO SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND POSSIBLE IMPACT ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS ARE PERMITTED USES IN RESPECTIVE ZONING DISTRICTS THAT REQUIRE INDIVIDUALIZED REVIEW DUE TO THE POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL IMPACTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE ON SURROUNDING AREA OR NEIGHBORHOOD.
USES PERMITTED BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION SHALL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND GENERAL WELFARE.
I'VE JUST READ THAT FROM THE MEMO THAT YOU SENT OUT.
I WOULD LIKE NOW TO GO OVER EACH OF THE SIX SPECIAL EXEMPTION APPROVAL STANDARDS.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE PROPOSED USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL.
THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
WE DO NOT HAVE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS WITHIN WOODMONT.
IT IS STRICTLY ALL RESIDENTIAL.
THE ONE THAT I REALLY, REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THE COMPLIMENTARY NATURE OF THE CLUBHOUSE AND THE PROPOSED HOTEL WILL HELP ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUSTAINABILITY OF THE GOLF COURSE AND TENNIS COURTS.
IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMUNITIES TO SUSTAIN THE GOLF COURSE AND THE TENNIS COURTS.
[04:50:04]
THAT IS STRICTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB AND MR. SCHMIDT.I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS STANDARD OF NUMBER ONE WAS NET AT ALL.
AS FAR AS NUMBER TWO, THE PROPOSED USE IS DEEMED DESIRABLE FOR PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NOT INJURIES OR OTHERWISE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY, COMFORT AND WELFARE.
WELL, I TRULY BELIEVED THAT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT AND WELFARE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HEALTH FOR A MINUTE.
I SEE THE SIGNS HERE ABOUT, PROTECT OUR KIDS.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE ANXIETY A PARENT WOULD GO THROUGH WORRYING ABOUT THEIR CHILD.
THEIR CHILD WALKING TO THE BUS STOP, THEIR CHILD GOING UP THE STREET TO RIDE A BIKE, HAVING A HOTEL IN THE MIDST WITH TRANSIENTS COMING AND GOING THROUGH.
PEOPLE STAYING AT A HOTEL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO VETTED INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY COME, THEY GO, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
SO AS FAR AS SAFETY, AS FAR AS A HEALTH ISSUE OF ANXIETY, EVERY SINGLE PARENT IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN IS IMPERATIVE.
AS FAR AS THE COMFORT AND WELFARE, RESIDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF LOSING THEIR AMENITIES.
I CAN LISTEN FROM NOW TILL NEXT THURSDAY ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES NOT DECREASING.
YOU CANNOT TELL ME IF YOU'RE LOOKING OUT AT A FOUR-STORY HOTEL THAT YOUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE NOT GOING TO DECREASE.
YOU CAN TELL ME FROM NOW TILL TOMORROW, I'M NOT BUYING THAT.
YOU HAVE A FOUR-STOREY HOTEL IN YOUR BACKYARD.
WOODMONT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS OPEN SPACE.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSES AND IT'S WATER WAVES.
LIVING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IT.
THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT HAVE MADE SACRIFICES WHEN WE BUILT THE A 152 PENALTY HOMES BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DID LOSE THEIR VIEWS THAT THAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
THIS DEFINITELY IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SHALL MINIMIZE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS INCLUDING NOISE, LIGHT, AND DUST TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE? WHO'S GOING TO BE MONITORING THIS? HOW IS IT GOING TO BE JUDGED AND HOW IS IT GOING TO BE FIXED? CAN YOU TELL ME THAT?
>> YES. SO COMMISSIONER, THE ENTIRE SENTENCE HAS TO DO WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED USE, SHALL MINIMIZE, AND SO IT'S A PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW.
WE HAVE EXTENSIVELY REVIEWED THE ORIENTATION, THE LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY, THE SETBACK, WHICH IS NO LESS THAN OVER 300 FEET FROM THE CLOSEST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
SO ALL OF THAT WAS REVIEWED AS A PART OF THE DRC PROCESS.
WE BELIEVE ULTIMATELY WHAT THE SEMI ITERATIONS THAT THE DESIGN WENT THROUGH, THAT IT MET THE STANDARD RELATIVE TO THE DESIGN AS IT RELATES TO LIGHT DOES AND POTENTIAL NUISANCES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A QUOTE AS IT RELATES TO COMMERCIAL, NON RESIDENTIAL, AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITH VIOLATIONS AS IT RELATES TO DUST, NOISE, AND NUISANCE.
SO THE CITY, THROUGH THE COURT ENFORCEMENT OFFICE AS WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING AS WELL AS RESPONDING TO ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE COURT.
>> OKAY. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE NOISE LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S DURING CONSTRUCTION OR AFTER CONSTRUCTION WOULD DEFINITELY BE A DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
LET'S FACE IT. YOU'RE STAYING IN A HOTEL.
IF YOU'RE THERE FOR AN EVENT, YOU'RE THERE TO PARTY, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STOP PARTYING AT 10 O'CLOCK.
SO THE NOISE THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE AROUND THEM WOULD DEFINITELY BE A DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THERE AGAIN, THE LIGHTS FROM THE HOTEL, WE'VE HEARD THAT SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LIGHTS ON 24-7.
THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AS WELL.
THIS IS A DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER 4 IS THE SITE PLAN ISSUE, I'M NOT GOING TO DISCUSS THAT.
NUMBER 5 IS THE TRAFFIC STUDY.
I WILL CHALLENGE THIS TRAFFIC STUDY BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN PROJECTED OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THAT POULTRY IS DUE TO BE BUILDING HERE.
[04:55:04]
THE ONE THING WE HAVE ALL SEEN IS THAT FAMILIES ARE GROWING.MANY GENERATIONS ARE LIVING TOGETHER NOW.
OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MANY, MANY MORE RESIDENTS THAN THE 2021 THAT THIS TRAFFIC STUDY WAS PROJECTED THROUGH.
SO I DEFINITELY CHALLENGE THAT.
ON NUMBER 6, NUMBER 6 SAYS THAT THE LAND IS SUFFICIENT FOR ANY REASONABLY ANTICIPATED EXPANSION.
WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MORE RETAIL SPACE THERE OF SOMEBODY SAID TONIGHT A BURGER KING? WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?
>> THE LAND THAT'S IN QUESTION TONIGHT ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS THE WOODMONT COUNTRY CLUB SITE WHICH COMPRISE OF 13.4 ACRES.
SO THAT'S THE PROPERTY ON WHICH THE HOTEL IS BEING PROPOSED.
ON THAT PROPERTY, ITS USES THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE S-1, WHICH IS NOW THE RC ZONING DESIGNATION.
SINCE THE HOTEL THAT'S INCIDENTAL TO THE COUNTRY CLUB, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY TYPE OF COMMERCIAL USES INCLUDING A BURGER KING TO KNOW, THAT WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE PROPOSED ON THAT 13.4 ACRES OF PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE COUNTRY CLUB PARCEL, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY TONIGHT.
>> OKAY. WHAT COULD BE ANTICIPATED EXPANSION? WHAT WOULD THE POSSIBILITIES BE?
>> WHILE THE S-1 ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH I'M LOOKING NOW AT THE RC, WHICH CORRELATES WITH THE RC ZONING DISTRICT UNDER OUR NEW CODE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW A FEW USES INCLUDING USES THAT ARE EXISTING CURRENTLY, SUCH AS THE COUNTRY CLUB, WHICH IS BUILT BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION, CLUB ARE LARGE, PRIVATE, SIMILAR TO THAT.
BUT SOME OTHER USES BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION INCLUDES, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ARENA.
BUT THOSE WOULD NEED TO COME BEFORE YOU, MUNICIPAL FACILITIES, LIBRARY, ART, GALLERY, OR MUSEUMS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE USES THAT ARE LISTED ON THE RC, WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO THE S-1 ZONING DESIGNATION IN THE CURRENT CODE.
>> OKAY. WELL, THAT GIVES US A GENERAL IDEA THERE.
THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS TRANSFERABLE FROM HILTON TO A MOTEL 6.
>> A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL IS SPECIFIC TO THE USE TO THE BRAND, TO THE CONDITIONS THAT'S ATTACHED TO THAT APPROVAL.
SO IT'S TRANSFERABLE AS A PACKAGE.
ANY CONDITIONS THAT ARE CHANGING WOULD REQUIRE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO BE REHEARD.
SO NO, IT COULD NOT TRANSFER TO A MOTEL, IT COULD NOT TRANSFER TO A CONDOMINIUM TYPE OF SETTING.
IN THE BEGINNING OF MY PRESENTATION, I SPOKE ABOUT CERTAIN STANDARDS THAT YOU ADOPTED IN 2016 TO AVOID A LOWER LEVEL QUALITY PRODUCTS IN THE S-1 ZONING DISTRICT.
THOSE STANDARDS ARE CRITERIA, THOUGH SUBSTANTIAL AS IT RELATES TO HOW THE USE ITSELF SHOULD PERFORM.
SO I DON'T SEE WHERE THIS COULD TRANSFER TO A MOTEL OR TO A CONDOMINIUM OR ANY USE OTHER THAN WHAT'S APPROVED, IF IT'S APPROVED, IN ADDITION TO THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THIS APPROVAL.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO TRY AND MOVE ALONG HERE TONIGHT.
I KNOW EVERYBODY IS ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY AND GET TO GO HOME.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT WHO ARE HERE.
THOSE WHO HAVE CALLED IN, THOSE WHO HAVE WRITTEN IN.
I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THE RESIDENTS OF WOODMONT ARE ALWAYS VOCAL, AND IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.
I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, AND YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN SHY ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST QUALITIES.
YOU HAVE PORTRAYED YOURSELF IN A PROFESSIONAL COM MATTER.
YOU'VE SAID WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY AND WE HAVE HEARD YOU.
THIS PROPOSAL [NOISE] THOUGH HAS SEVERAL ISSUES FOR ME.
I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE RESIDENCE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT DOES SUSTAIN ITSELF WITH 553 OTHER HOTEL ROOMS WITHIN A FIVE-MILE RADIUS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF SAFETY ISSUES.
I DON'T HAVE TO SIT HERE AND GO THROUGH THEM ALL WITH YOU AGAIN.
THERE'S SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN, THERE'S SAFETY FOR RESIDENTS.
[05:00:02]
IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE.IT IS NOT A COMMERCIAL AREA, AND THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, IN MY OPINION.
WOODMONT IS IN FACT, A PREMIER RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A DESTINATION, IT IS NOT PEBBLE BEACH.
PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING TO WOODMONT TO PLAY GOLF AND SPEND A WEEK.
TO HAVE A HOTEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH FIVE HOTELS WITHIN FIVE MILES, IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD IDEA.
SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS IS A PRIORITY TO ME.
TRANSIENTS, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
NEIGHBORS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY A HOTEL IN THEIR BACKYARD.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NOISE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LIGHTS WITH NO BENEFIT WHATSOEVER.
THE STANDARDS FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION TONIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN MET.
THEY WERE CLEARLY NOT MET WITH THE INTENTION OF WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS HOW IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED.
I WAS ELECTED BY MY CONSTITUENTS TO REPRESENT THEM, TO PROTECT THEM AND THEIR BEST INTERESTS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I DO, IN FACT LIVE IN WOODMONT.
I HAVE HEARD YOUR THOUGHTS OVER MANY, MANY MONTHS, AND I HAVE HEARD ALL YOUR THOUGHTS HERE TONIGHT.
THERE IS NO WAY I CAN SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT IT.
>> [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
NEXT ON DECK IS COMMISSIONER BOLTON.
TO THE DEVELOPER FOR WOODMAN, SOMETHING STUCK OUT TO ME DURING YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU SAID THAT HOTEL ROOMS ARE SOLD FOR $147 PER NIGHT, BUT YOU TOOK THAT DATA FROM 2014.
I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU DID NOT TAKE DATA FROM A MORE RECENT YEAR?
>> SURE. THAT WAS THE DATA THAT HAD A LOT OF OTHER PROFILE DATA.
WHEN WE DID THE HVS SURVEY AND SUBMITTED IT TO THE CITY AT THE CITY'S REQUEST, THE RATES WERE AT $150 A NIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RATES.
MY COMMENTS ON RATES WAS MISCONSTRUED.
THE AVERAGE RATE WOULD BE $150 A NIGHT, AND WHAT I SAID IS THAT PEAK RATES WOULD BE $250, NOT AVERAGE RATES.
THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEAK RATES AND AVERAGE RATES.
RATES, IF THEY WERE 147 IN 2014, THEN THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE GONE UP BY THE TIME WE OPEN IN 2022.
BUT WE WERE WORKING FROM A 2019 HVS STUDY WHICH SHOWED RATES OF $150 A NIGHT, PRE-COVID.
>> OKAY. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS WHO MADE SOME COMMENTS THAT I LIKED AND THAT I DID NOT LIKE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE AS COMMENTS TO YOU AND STAFF.
I HEAR THAT OFTEN, AND THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A VISION IN THE CITY TO CHANGE THE OUTLOOK OF THE CITY FROM A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TO A MORE URBAN COMMUNITY, LET'S SAY IN A METROPOLITAN AREA, READING VERBIAGE FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS PORTFOLIO, THEN WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ACCEPT PHRASES LIKE, NOT IN TAMARAC BECAUSE THIS CITY IS NOT BUILT FOR THAT.
[05:05:06]
OR WHY DO WE NEED THIS HOTEL OR THIS RESTAURANT OR THAT'S TO THE STAFF? THE FUTURE, IF WE'RE GOING TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT BUSINESSES AND THE RIGHT RESTAURANTS, AND THAT'S THE STAFF, WE HAVE TO STOP MAKING COMMENTS LIKE THAT.I THINK THAT IS DISPARAGING TO THE CITY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD IN A BETTER WAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT TAMARAC SHOULD REMAIN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE JUST SLEEP.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ATTRACT MORE RESTAURANTS AND MORE BUSINESSES, AND THAT'S THE STAFF, AND WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
TO THE DEVELOPER'S POINT, I THINK THAT TAMARAC NEEDS TO START LOOKING AT MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THESE OR OTHERWISE.
ALSO, COMMENTS WERE MADE LIKE AS IF DEVELOPERS DO NOT HAVE RIGHTS TOO.
JUST LIKE RESIDENTS HAVE RIGHTS AND YOU ARE TROOPERS FOR COMING OUT AND STAYING LATE, DEVELOPERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO, AND WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEIR APPLICATIONS.
DEVELOPERS MAY WANT TO START A BAR SOMEWHERE DOWN THE STREET ON BANYAN LANE.
WE CAN'T STOP SOMEBODY FROM FILING AN APPLICATION, BUT WE HAVE TO HEAR IT.
I'M NOT TOO PLEASED WITH THOSE COMMENTS.
COMMENTS LIKE, VOTE THEM OUT, AND THOSE DISPARAGING COMMENTS AS WELL.
BEING A COMMISSIONER IS NOT AN EASY JOB.
YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THE RIGHTS OF THE DEVELOPER, AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO WEIGH THE RIGHTS OF THE RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE SOMETIMES DEVELOPERS HAVE ENTITLEMENTS AND YOU JUST CAN'T SAY NO TO A CERTAIN SUBJECT, FIGHTING FOR OTHER DISTRICTS AND NOT US.
AGAIN, I'VE LONG FOUGHT HARD FOR PROJECTS IN OTHER DISTRICTS WHILE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES DIDN'T CARE.
WE HAD THE STORAGE FACILITY IN MY DISTRICT THAT BROUGHT SIMILAR ISSUES, THEY ALL VOTED YES.
THE WOODLANDS CAME BEFORE US, THERE WERE MANY RESIDENTS JUST LIKE YOU ALL THAT WERE HERE, BEGGED AND PLEADED TO THIS SAME COMMISSION OR A FRACTION THEREOF, AND MAJORITY VOTED YES.
THE WOODLANDS IS NOT IN MY DISTRICT AND I FOUGHT FOR THAT COMMUNITY TOO.
THEN THE LAST COMMENT THAT AWED TO ME A LITTLE BIT WAS, LOWER-CLASS PEOPLE.
WE'RE ALL ONE AND WE'RE ALL EQUAL.
I NEVER WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT A YES OR NO VOTE IS BASED ON SOMEBODY SAYING THAT WE DON'T WANT LOWER-CLASS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WOODMAN IS NOT SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY.
WE NEED TO STOP MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT, WE PAY VERY HIGH TAXES.
WHETHER YOU PAY A DOLLAR OR YOU PAY $10,000, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO COME HERE AND LOBBY THIS COMMISSION.
I'M TIRED OF THOSE COMMENTS AND I WANTED TO SPEAK OUT ON THOSE.
[05:10:04]
MRS. CALLOWAY, WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD THAT VOTED IN THE WAY THAT THEY DID? I SEE A 4:1 VOTE, AND I ALSO SEE A 3:2 VOTE.CAN YOU TELL ME WHO DISSENTED?
>> ACTUALLY IF YOU GIVE US A FULL COMPOSITION OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE.
WHAT IS YOUR ADDITIONAL QUESTION?
>> PACEY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE GIVE US THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF WHO THE FIVE MEMBERS WERE.
IF THE COMMISSIONER HAS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, I CAN ADDRESS THAT NOW WHILE I SEARCH FOR THE E-MAIL THAT INCLUDES THE LIST.
[OVERLAPPING] YOU KNOW THAT WE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONER PLACKO, SO WE DO HAVE THAT.
MR. DEVELOPER, HOW WILL YOUR HOTEL ADVERTISE? WHAT IS YOUR MARKETING PLAN TO GAIN THE CUSTOMERS THAT YOU'LL NEED TO REMAIN VIABLE?
HOTELS THAT ARE PART OF, LET'S SAY, HILTON, MARRIOTT, ETC, GAIN ABOUT 60-65 PERCENT OF THEIR VISITORS FROM LOYALTY MEMBERS.
SO THE HILTON HONORS PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE.
IN THE CASE OF HILTON, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOTELS, 67 PERCENT OF THEM ARE FILLED WITH HILTON HONORS MEMBERS.
SO HILTON HONORS MEMBER IS IN THE AREA, WANTS TO BE IN THE AREA, WANTS TO STAY IN HILTON, PICKS UP THE PHONE OR GOES ONLINE AND LOOKS FOR A HILTON HONORS AND THEN A HILTON HOTEL AND BOOKS THE HOTEL.
COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT PEOPLE PASSING BY A MAIN ROAD AND STOPPING AND THEN SEEING A HOTEL WITH A BRIGHT NEON SIGN AND GOING IN.
>> MR. DEVELOPER, I THINK YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I'M YET AND HOW I LIKE TO CONDUCT MY QUESTIONS WHILE I'M ON THE FLOOR.
BUT WHEN I ASK A QUESTION, I JUST WANT THAT QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED AND NOTHING MORE.
>> OKAY. I WAS TRYING TO, BUT FINE
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOUR ANSWER WAS ENOUGH.
WILL THERE BE OR CAN THERE BE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUESTS BEFORE THEY CHECK IN TO YOUR HOTEL?
>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY HOTEL ANYWHERE IN THE US THAT DOES BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THEIR GUEST.
>> IF YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE WHO YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE AND HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHO STAYS THERE, HOW WILL YOU GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS AROUND THE HOTEL?
>> YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN IMPOSSIBILITY.
THERE IS NO HOTEL IN NORTH AMERICA THAT IS GOING TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS AND GUARANTEE THAT SOMEBODY, WHETHER IN AN URBAN SETTING OR WHETHER IN A COMMUNITY SETTING, HAS PASSED WHATEVER TEST WE WANT THEM TO PASS IN TERMS OF BEING SUITABLE FOR STAYING IN A HOTEL.
>> SO IF I WANTED TO STAY AT THE HOTEL, IT'S ABOUT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I GO ON TO HILTON.COM OR WHATEVER APP THERE IS, I SEE THAT YOUR HOTEL IS AVAILABLE AND THE RATE IS $147 PER NIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO ME AND I WANT TO BOOK THE HOTEL AND I GET A RESERVATION NUMBER AND I SHOW UP TO THE HOTEL WITH A CREDIT CARD OR A DEBIT CARD AND MY ID AND YOU CHECK ME IN.
>> YES. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS THOUSANDS OF TIMES EVERY NIGHT ACROSS THE US.
>> SO IT COULD BE SOMEBODY HUMAN TRAFFICKING A CHILD OR SOMEBODY WHO IS A PREDATOR.
YOU DON'T REALLY CARE. YOU JUST CHECK [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S NOT A QUESTION ABOUT CARING, ITS A QUESTION ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THE PERSON COMING TO THE HOTEL.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION, BUT THERE IS NO HOTEL IN THE US THAT DOES
[05:15:01]
A POLICE REPORT AND A CREDIT CHECK AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER CHECKS, AND WHETHER THEY'RE ON SEX OFFENDER DATABASE, ETC, BEFORE SOMEBODY COMES TO A HOTEL.YOU KNOW THAT. SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE QUESTION IS COMING FROM.
>> I KNOW VERY WELL AND THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
SINCE YOU HAVE TO BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY THAT CHECKS INTO YOUR HOTEL, I'LL BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO AN ARTICLE IN THE SUN SENTINEL, JUNE 23RD, 2017.
THE AUTHOR OF THIS IS LISA HURIASH THAT ACTUALLY LIVES IN DISTRICT 4 CLOSE TO THE WOODMONT AREA.
THE ARTICLE'S HEADLINE SAYS, "HOMELESS FAMILIES TO GET FREE HOTEL STAYS FOR UP TO 21 DAYS IN NEW PROGRAM." HERE'S WHAT THE FIRST TWO PARAGRAPHS SAY, "A NEW TAXPAYER FUNDED PROGRAM WILL GIVE THE HOMELESS FREE HOTEL STAYS FOR UP TO 21 DAYS, BEGINNING NEXT MONTH.
ONE THOUSAND ROOMS WILL BE SET ASIDE OVER A THREE MONTH PERIOD AT TWO EXTENDED STAY AMERICA LOCATIONS IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND TAMARAC." MR. DEVELOPER, YOU'RE VERY FAIR TO ANYBODY WHO CHECKS INTO YOUR HOTEL.
SO IF THESE 1,000 HOMELESS FAMILIES WANT TO BOOK HOTEL ROOMS FOR 21 DAYS AT $147 PER NIGHT, YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM, WOULDN'T YOU?
>> WELL, LET'S STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT.
>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO STEP BACK AT ALL.
I JUST WANT YOU TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.
>> I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
YOU POINTED OUT WITH YOUR OWN WORDS THAT THIS WAS A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM VERY SPECIFICALLY SETTING ASIDE.
SO WHEREVER THOSE HOTELS WERE, DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.
TO GO BACK TO YOUR ONE OF YOUR FIRST QUESTIONS, HILTON HONORS MEMBERS AND YOU DIDN'T LET ME FINISH THERE.
GOLFERS ARE COMING THERE, PEOPLE ATTENDING EVENTS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE HILTON HONORS MEMBERS, PEOPLE ATTENDING TENNIS CAMPS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THEIR.
SO I DON'T SEE WHY OR WHAT A PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH US.
>> SO IF THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE WOULD USE YOUR PROKARD TO BOOK A HOMELESS FAMILY INTO THE HOTEL WITHOUT BRINGING IT THROUGH SOME PROGRAM, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO ALLOW THAT FAMILY BECAUSE YOU ARE AMENABLE TO GIVING LODGING TO ANYBODY THAT COMES TO YOUR HOTEL, YES?
>> IT'S THE SAME AS A HOMELESS PERSON GOING INTO A PUBLIC FACILITY.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE BEFORE THEY WALK INTO A PUBLIC FACILITY, WHETHER THEY'RE HOMELESS OR THEY LIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRACKS, ARE YOU?
MR. DEVELOPER, I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND LIKE I'M ATTACKING THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW MY STORY.
BUT I WILL DIVULGE YOU INTO JUST A PART OF IT FOR A LITTLE BIT.
BEFORE I MOVED TO FORT LAUDERDALE, I WAS HOMELESS FOR THREE DAYS IN MIAMI BEACH, SLEEPING UNDER A BRIDGE, 5TH STREET BRIDGE, FOR THREE NIGHTS WITHOUT FOOD ON A CARDBOARD BOX.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND I UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE WOULD NEED A HOTEL ROOM FOR $147 AT LEAST FOR THREE NIGHTS AND I'D APPRECIATE IF THAT HOTEL ROOM WERE IN WOODMONT COMMUNITY BECAUSE I NEEDED THE WARMTH AT THE TIME.
SO SINCE YOU ARE SO FAIR AND YOU SEEM TO BE A NICE GUY, AND I'M SURE MR. SMITH IS A NICE GUY AS WELL.
[05:20:03]
SOMEONE OPINED THAT HE'S NOT.BUT, COULD ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS HOTEL BEING IN WOODMONT THAT YOU MAKE A VERY LARGE CONTRIBUTION TO A HOMELESS CHARITY TO FIND HOUSING FOR ALL THOSE HOMELESS FAMILIES THAT ARE NOW MOVING INTO TIME ROCK ALONG COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD AND ALONG MCNABB AND SO ON.
>> SO YOU ARE ASKING IF WE AS A HOTELIER SHOULD BE MAKING A DONATION TO SOLVE THE CITY'S HOMELESS PROBLEM? THE ANSWER IS NO,.
>> WE MAKE DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU, BUT YOU MAY NOT FEEL IT OR SEE IT DIRECTLY.
SO WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES UP, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THE PEOPLE, BUT IT ALSO PUTS PRESSURE ON US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND YOU GUYS HAVE EXPRESSED YOUR OPINION VERY CLEARLY.
SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT I'M JUST GOING TO ROLL QUICKLY INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING.
I TRUST THAT THE STAFF AND APPLICANT WILL JUST KEEP TRACK AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT AND EXPRESS MY OPINION.
SO ONE, HOW IS THE NEED FOR A HOTEL DETERMINED? TWO, WHAT WERE THEIR RATES DURING THE FEASIBILITY STUDY? I THINK MARLIN COVERED THAT AT 147.
WHAT AREAS OF THE COUNTY OR THE CITY OR SOUTH FLORIDA WERE CONSIDERED WHEN THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS DONE? BECAUSE TAMARAC IS A VERY DIFFERENT CITY THAN SUNRISE OR CORAL SPRINGS, A LOT OF HALO PLANTATION.
WHAT JOBS WILL BE CREATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOTEL? NORMALLY, A HOTEL WILL HAVE A GENERAL MANAGER AND ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE LOW-PAID EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE YOUR CLEANING CREW, THEY ARE GOING BE YOUR WAITSTAFF, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HOURLY WAGE EMPLOYEES WHO USUALLY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A BUS, THAT COMES WITH ITS OWN THING.
THE APPLICANT, YOU'VE BUILT, OR AT SOME POINT OWNED 47 HOTELS THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.
WHAT POST-HOTEL STUDIES HAVE YOU DONE TO DEMONSTRATE INCREASED TAX REVENUES, INCREASE HOME VALUES, ALL THE BENEFITS THAT YOU SAY A COMMUNITY WILL GAIN? SO IF YOU'VE HAD ALL THESE HOTELS OVER TIME, HAVE YOU DONE A STUDY THAT SAID, WE BUILT THE HOTEL 20 YEARS AGO.
THIS WAS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OR BENEFIT FOR THE CITY. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ANSWER. FOR STAFF, HOW MANY HOTELS DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC? FOR THE TRAFFIC STUDY, THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IS CHANGING NOW.
I KNOW WHEN WE TRAVEL AS A COMMISSION AND GO TO DC OR TALLAHASSEE TO LOBBY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, MOST OF US DON'T RENT CARS ANYMORE.
WE TAKE UBER, WE TAKE LYFT, WE TAKE TAXI, SOMETIMES WE TAKE THE BUS FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL.
DID THE TRAFFIC STUDY INCLUDE NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING? SO PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER RENTING CARS, THEY ARE TAKING UBER AND LYFT AND TAKING MULTIPLE TRIPS TO AND FROM THE HOTEL TO WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING IN A DAY.
FOR THE DEVELOPER, WILL THE BUILDING BE GREEN CERTIFIED AND WHAT LEVEL OF GREEN STATUS WILL THE BUILDING HAVE? IN TERMS OF THE CHILDREN'S GOLF TOURNAMENTS, TENNIS PACKAGES, AND COMMUNITY TENNIS MEMBERSHIPS, DO YOU HAVE THOSE PRICINGS AVAILABLE? HOW MANY HOTELS ARE IN A FIVE-MILE RADIUS? I THINK THAT WAS ALREADY COVERED.
THEN THERE WAS SOME MENTION ABOUT A HOTEL AROUND A COMMUNITY IN PEMBROKE PINES.
SO THAT WAS REFERENCED, BUT WHAT STUDIES WERE DONE TO DEMONSTRATE THE BENEFIT TO THAT COMMUNITY? THERE WAS A MENTION EARLIER ABOUT HOTEL ACCOMMODATION TAXES.
WHAT PORTION OF HOTEL ACCOMMODATION TAXES GOES TO THE CITY? FOR THE DEVELOPER, THE HILTON HOTEL DESTINATION, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE OR COMPETE WITH TAMARAC'S CROWN JEWEL, FAIRFIELD MARRIOTT HOTEL, WHICH I THINK COST US, TAXPAYERS, $11 MILLION TO BUILD?
[05:25:04]
FOR THE CITY MANAGER, WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST FOR THAT? ALSO FOR THE DEVELOPER, A LOT OF THINGS ARE CHANGING RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.SO TODAY, DOORDASH, WHICH IS A FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE, MADE THEIR INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING GOING FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY TO A PUBLIC COMPANY.
THEY START OUT AT $42, THEY FINISH AT $189 PER SHARE.
SO A DELIVERY SERVICE IS NOW WORTH $60 BILLION.
AIRBNB, WHICH IS A COMPETITOR TO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, IS GOING TO GO PUBLIC TOMORROW.
INITIALLY, THEY WERE GOING TO COME OUT AT $44-$50 PER SHARE.
NOW, IT'S LOOKING AT $68 PER SHARE.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, THEY WERE VALUED AT $18 BILLION AND THEY'RE EXPECTED TO BE TOTALLY VALUED AT $47 BILLION, AND IT'S CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF HOW PEOPLE ARE VISITING AND STAYING IN CITIES.
SO ARE HOTELS EVEN VIABLE GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE WHEN SOMEONE CAN LIVE IN A NICE HOME FOR A TEMPORARY, SHORT STAY, VERSUS A HOTEL WHERE YOU HAVE TO GIVE TIPS AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS? SO THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, I JUST FIGURED I'D GET IT ALL OUT AT ONCE.
I'LL WAIT FOR THE RESPONSES AND I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS.
>> WE'LL GO TO OUR CITY'S DIRECTOR, MAXINE.
>> I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE QUESTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO THE APPLICANT, BUT I CAN RESPOND TO THE NUMBER OF HOTELS THAT ARE IN THE CITY.
THERE ARE SEVEN EXISTING HOTELS IN THE CITY.
EIGHT, INCLUDING THE COLONY WEST HOTEL THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THAT'S OF COURSE, THE CLOSEST HOTEL TO THIS SUBJECT PROPERTY, WHICH IS ABOUT 0.73 MILES OR 3,875 FEET FROM THE PROPOSED HOTEL.
THEN RELATIVE TO STUDIES AND OTHER DATA AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE APPLICANT TO RESPOND.
I MET WITH ANOTHER HOTEL DEVELOPER VIA TELECONFERENCE A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT WANTED TO DEVELOP A HOTEL IN THE EAST OF TAMARAC, VERY SIMILAR TO THE HOTEL AT THE END OF I-75.
IS THAT GOING TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD OR THAT'S STILL IN DEVELOPMENT?
>> IT'S PROBABLY STILL IN DEVELOPMENT, COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A FORMAL APPLICATION FILE.
YOU'RE PROBABLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE-
>> YEAH, AND WE HAVE HAD A FEW INQUIRY, SOME CALLS.
A FORMAL APPLICATION HAS NOT BEEN FILED OVER THIS OFFICE.
BUT ONCE ONE IS FILED, YES, IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE PLANNING BOARD.
>> OKAY. SO POTENTIALLY, A NINTH HOTEL GOING UP OR BEING PROPOSED.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY. A FORMAL APPLICATION HAS NOT FILED WITH THIS OFFICE.
WE HAVE HAD AN INQUIRY. I THINK THE CALL THAT WE RESPONDED TO MIGHT HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
>> SO I DON'T KNOW HOW RECENT YOUR CONVERSATION WAS, BUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO, YOU'RE CORRECT.
>> APPLICANT, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RESPOND.
>> SURE. THERE'S A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS HERE, SO I'LL JUST TRY TO TAKE THEM IN THE ORDER THAT THEY WERE RAISED.
THE HOTEL RATE WE HAVE USED AS OF 2019 IS $150 A NIGHT WITH A 75-80 PERCENT OCCUPANCY.
QUESTION YOU RAISED IS WELL, COMMISSIONER GELIN IS, HOW DOES ONE ARRIVE AT WHETHER THERE IS A NEED FOR A HOTEL? WHEN THE SURROUNDING HOTELS AND THERE ARE STAR REPORTS THAT ONE CAN ACCESS, BUT WHEN [BACKGROUND], SORRY, SURROUNDING HOTELS HIT A 75-80 PERCENT OCCUPANCY, THEN THERE IS ROOM FOR ANOTHER HOTEL TO COME IN.
THAT'S JUST A RULE OF THUMB IN THE INDUSTRY, WORKS ALL THE TIME.
JUST TO FINISH ON THAT, HAVE WE NOT HAD A FAVORABLE PROJECTION OF WHAT ROOM RATES AND OCCUPANCY WOULD BE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS PROJECT.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT TELLS US WE SHOULD MOVE WITH THE PROJECT.
IT FIRST HAS TO MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE.
SECONDLY, THE CONSTRUCTION JOBS WOULD BE JOBS THAT AMOUNT TO ABOUT $14-$15 MILLION.
[05:30:07]
THAT'S THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, PLUS CONSULTANTS, DESIGNERS, YOU TALK TO AN ARCHITECT TODAY, PLUS FURNITURE PURCHASES OF ABOUT 2 MILLION.GENERALLY, IT SEEMS TO BE LOCAL.
THE STAFFING WOULD TEND TO BE, I MENTIONED EARLIER, ABOUT 40-42 FULL-TIME STAFF.
THERE WOULD BE A MANAGER, AND REMEMBER THERE'S THREE SHIFTS, SO A MANAGER AND ASSISTANT MANAGER.
A NUMBER OF THE JOBS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE CLEANING STAFF.
THIS IS NOT A FULL-SERVICE HOTEL, BUT THERE'LL BE RECEPTION POSITION, MAINTENANCE POSITIONS, ETC.
YOU ASKED ABOUT IMPACT OR STUDY.
GENERALLY, THERE IS NOT THE KIND OF POST-STUDY IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU OUTLINED THAT IS DONE BY HOTELIER, MAYBE OTHER BODIES DO IT.
YOU ASKED ABOUT TRAFFIC STUDY OR NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS.
THE TRAFFIC STUDY INCORPORATED SOME OF THE NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS OBVIOUSLY DEPENDS ON THE RATE AND PACE OF CHANGE, AND THAT'S HARD TO PREDICT HOW THAT WILL BE.
WILL WE HAVE DRIVERLESS CARS TOMORROW OR NOT? WE DON'T KNOW. MAY TAKE A WHILE PROBABLY.
SO I DID INCORPORATE SOME OF THE NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS, ETC., AND DIDN'T ALLOW FOR JUST PEOPLE WHO HAVE RENTED THE CAR OR HAVE A CAR COMING TO THE FACILITY.
WE ARE PLANNING TO BE CERTIFIED AT THE SILVER LEVEL, SO THE EQUIVALENT OF LEED SILVER FOR THE PROJECT.
I MADE SOME NOTES, BUT WE TABLED THE ENTIRE HVS STUDY EVEN THOUGH GENERALLY, WE WOULD CONSIDER IT PROPRIETARY, BUT WE TABLE THAT WITH THE CITY.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE CITY HAS ITS OWN HOTEL.
YOU ASKED ABOUT THE COMPARISON WITH OTHER HOTELS NEARBY.
[INAUDIBLE] SUITES WOULD BE ABOVE FAIRFIELD INN SLIGHTLY.
THE TAXES ARE BOTH EQUITY TAXES AND THERE IS I BELIEVE AT THE MOMENT, A 12 PERCENT IN TOTAL ACCOMMODATION TAX.
IS THE HOTEL VIABLE? WE WOULD NOT BE INVESTING AND MADE THE INVESTMENT WE HAVE SO FAR AND AGREED TO ADDITIONAL COSTS IF WE DID NOT FEEL THE HOTEL WAS VIABLE, IS ALL I CAN SAY.
THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HILTON HONORS PROGRAM.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE YOU GET HOTEL GAS, RIGHT? I MEAN, THERE'S TRAVELOCITY, THERE'S ALL THE ONLINE WEBSITES.
>> SO WHAT'S THE AVERAGE OR WHAT'S THE MEMBER PROFILE OF A HILTON HONORS MEMBER.
>> THE PROFILE WOULD BE GENERALLY SOMEBODY WHO IS WORKING, WHO TRAVELS, WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, HE'S GOING TO USE THE PROGRAM, ETC.
IT'S LIKE A CREDIT CARD WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN INCOME CUT OFF BEFORE THE [INAUDIBLE] BECOME A HILTON HONORS MEMBER.
>> I UNDERSTAND. I HAVE A HONORS MEMBER AND THE MARRIOTT MEMBERSHIP.
JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU HAD SOME DEMOGRAPHICS IN TERMS OF AVERAGE AGE, INCOME LEVEL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
>> HILTON PROTECTS THAT FAIRLY TIGHTLY.
>> OKAY. SO LAST COMMENT, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ABOUT A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ELEMENT, AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE THINK OF CRIMINALS, WE HAVE A CERTAIN IMAGE OF WHAT A CRIMINAL LOOKS LIKE IN OUR MIND.
BUT I REMEMBER I USED TO WATCH A SHOW THAT USED TO COME ON MSNBC CALLED TO CATCH A PREDATOR, WHERE THEY WOULD SET UP THESE PEOPLE, AND YOU'RE OFTEN SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THESE ARE DOCTORS AND LAWYERS AND ALL KIND OF PROFESSIONALS, AND A LOT OF THE ACTION DOES TAKE PLACE AT A HOTEL.
FROM THE DEVELOPERS PERSPECTIVE, I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, WHY THEY WOULD LOOK AT THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU SAID YOU'VE DEVELOPED ABOUT 47 OR SO HOTELS? HOW MANY HOTELS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> TWO. WHAT CITY OR STATE WAS THAT IN?
[05:35:01]
>> OKAY. IS THE HILTON PIVOTING TOWARDS MOVING AWAY FROM COMMERCIAL AND MOVING TOWARDS RESIDENTIAL FOR FUTURE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT?
>> I THINK RESIDENTIAL WILL ALWAYS TEND TO BE A SMALL PORTION OF THE OVERALL SUBSET.
BUT BEFORE WE GOT APPROVAL FROM HILTON, AND THEY GO THROUGH A PRETTY DETAILED VETTING PROCESS, SOMEBODY SENIOR FROM HILTON CAME DOWN, LOOKED AT THE PROPOSED SITE WHICH WAS ON A GOLF COURSE IN THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, LOOKED AT ALL OF THE OTHER HOTELS THAT ARE AROUND, AND PROVIDED THEIR APPROVAL TO GO AHEAD WITH IT.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE WOULD PLACE THE HOTEL AND WHAT IT WOULD BE NEXT TO, ETC, AND PROVIDED THEIR APPROVAL FOR A HOTEL BEING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
IT IS A SMALL PORTION OF THE HOTELS THAT THEY APPROVE.
THIS ONE MADE SENSE. SO THEY APPROVED IT.
>> MAXINE, THIS IS YOUR INDUSTRY: PLANNING DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
YOU GO TO CONFERENCES AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST TRENDS.
IS THIS A FUTURE TREND OF HOTELS; SOME REMAINING COMMERCIAL, BUT OTHERS MOVING TOWARDS RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES?
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHILE THE PROPOSED HOTEL OR THE HOTEL IS BEING PROPOSED, WHAT WE WOULD SAY IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, IT'S NOT BEING PROPOSED ON A RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTY.
IT'S BEING PROPOSED ON RC [INAUDIBLE] , AND SO THIS TYPE OF USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
YOU'RE SEEING HOTELS THAT ARE BUILT ADJACENT TO COUNTRY CLUBS, AND THAT'S WHY THE ORDINANCE WAS DRAFTED THE WAY IT WAS TO BE AN ANCILLARY USE OR AN INCIDENTAL USE TO A COUNTRY CLUB.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE BUILT.
SO YOU FIRST HAVE TO HAVE A COUNTRY CLUB, AND IT CAN ONLY BE BUILT AS TO SUPPORT THAT COUNTRY CLUB AND VICE VERSA.
SO WHILE WE DO HAVE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY, THE CLOSEST BEING OVER 360 FEET AWAY, IT'S BEING PROPOSED IN AN S1 OR AN RC ZONING DESIGNATION WHICH IS 13.4 ACRES IN SIZE.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPATIBILITY AND WHAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE CODE, WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY, THE ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS IT, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE INCIDENTAL TO AN EXISTING CLUBHOUSE.
>> CAN YOU DEFINE [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION.
THE PROPERTY IS NOT ZONE RESIDENTIAL, WE UNDERSTAND, TO ACCESS [INAUDIBLE] COMING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S A RECREATION ZONE PROPERTY THAT'S SUITABLE.
SO TALKING FROM A TREND PERSPECTIVE, YOU ARE SEEING THAT, YOU ARE SEEING HOTELS THAT ARE SUPPORTING CLUBHOUSE PROPERTIES.
>> SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE RC REPRESENTS FOR RECREATION?
>> I KEEP SAYING S1 ONLY BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION THAT BECAUSE IT'S A SUBJECT TO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES THAT OUR REVIEW BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CODE THAT WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME WE APPROVED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO THE TIME WE APPROVED THE AGREEMENT IN 2014, THIS PROPERTY WAS ZONED S1.
SINCE THEN, WE ADOPTED A NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, A NEW ZONING MAP, A NEW LAND USE MAP, AND CHANGED THAT DESIGNATION TO RC.
SO THEY ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR, BUT UNDER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, THE PROPERTY IS ZONE S1 OR REVIEW IS CONSISTENT WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> MAXINE, WE LOST YOU FOR A SECOND.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED.
>> SO WHAT I WAS SAYING IS, I WANTED TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION, COMMISSIONER.
AT THE TIME WE APPROVED THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN 2014, THE PROPERTY ZONE S1, INCONSISTENT WITH FLORIDA STATUTE, ALL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, BENEFIT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE TIME IT'S APPROVED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND UNDER THE CODE AT THE TIME IT WAS APPROVED.
SO S1 DESIGNATION WAS A ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR THE PROPERTY UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BACK IN 2014.
SINCE THEN, WE HAVE ADOPTED A NEW CODE; 2018, WE ADOPTED A NEW ZONING MAP, WE ADOPTED A NEW LAND USE MAP, AND CHANGED THAT CLASSIFICATION TO RC, WHICH IS RECREATION.
THEY FUNCTION IN A LOT OF WAYS,
[05:40:01]
THE SAME USES WERE CARRIED OVER FROM THE S1 TO THE RC.BUT WE JUST ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD THAT THE APPROPRIATE ZONING DESIGNATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS S1.
SO THAT'S WHY I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE S1.
>> THANK YOU. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY OTHER COMMUNITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY, WHERE A HOTEL IS BEING DEVELOPED OR IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED? I GUESS REFLECTING THAT SAME DESIGNATION RC, S1, BUT IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SIMILAR TO THE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> WELL, THE DESIGNATION IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES.
WE HAVE COLONY WEST, WHICH IS A COUNTRY CLUB THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE A HOTEL THAT'S BEEN APPROVED, AND THE SITE THAT THE APPLICANT SPOKE TO ON THE GOLF COURSE.
I THINK THERE'S ALSO ONE IN CORAL SPRINGS [INAUDIBLE] THAT MIGHT HAVE THE SAME SETUP WHERE YOU HAVE A GOLF COURSE AS WELL AS A COUNTRY CLUB AND A HOTEL.
>> AND FRANK JUST TELLS ME IN INVERARY AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT. CITY MANAGER, THROUGH THE CHAIR, HOW MUCH HAS THE CITY INVESTED OR SPENT FOR THE COLONY WEST HOTEL.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST TO CLEAR UP SOME ONGOING OR CONTINUED CONFUSION REGARDING THE HOTEL AT COLONY WEST.
>> IF YOU CAN MOVE THE MIC CLOSER TO YOU, THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> JUST TO CLEAR UP SOME ONGOING OR CONTINUED CONFUSION REGARDING THE HOTEL AT COLONY WEST, THE CITY DOES NOT OWN THAT HOTEL NOR ARE WE CONSTRUCTING THAT HOTEL.
THAT HOTEL IS OWNED BY A MARRIOTT FRANCHISEE, BEING CONSTRUCTED BY THAT MARRIOTT FRANCHISEE.
OUR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT HOTEL WAS TO SELL THEM APPROXIMATELY AN ACRE AND A HALF OF PROPERTY IN THE PARKING LOT AT COLONY WEST FOR $1.5 MILLION.
SO WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION, OWNERSHIP, OPERATION OF THAT HOTEL OTHER THAN TO HAVE SOLD THEM THE PROPERTY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONY WEST GOLF COURSES.
>> HOW MUCH HAVE WE INVESTED IN THAT PROPERTY? SO WE ALL OWN THE CLUBHOUSE?
>> YEAH, IF I MIGHT, COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] , WE OWN THE CLUBHOUSE, CART BARN, GOLF COURSES.
WE OWN ALL THE GOLF AMENITIES THERE.
THE MARRIOTT FRANCHISEE OWNS THE HOTEL.
>> HOW MUCH HAVE WE INVESTED IN THE CLUBHOUSE AND THE CART BARN?
>> ALL TOLD, WE PAID $3 MILLION FOR THE GOLF COURSE, WE SOLD THE LAND TO MARRIOTT FOR 1.5.
WE'VE PUT APPROXIMATELY $9 MILLION INTO THE CURRENT RENOVATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON OVER THERE.
SO WE PROBABLY GOT ABOUT $12 MILLION INTO THAT, ALL TOLD AT THIS POINT.
>> ALL RIGHT. DOES THE CITY SUPPORT THE HOTEL AND BELIEVE THAT THE HOTEL BEING THERE BENEFITS THE GOLF COURSE?
>> I GUESS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PARTIES AND PERSPECTIVES HERE.
STAFF'S ROLE IS TO EVALUATE APPLICANTS AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE APPLICANT MEETS CERTAIN CODES AND STANDARDS.
AS LONG AS THEY MEET THOSE CODES AND STANDARDS THEN THEY CAN MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL BASED ON THE APPLICANT CHECKING ALL THE BOXES.
STAFF IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN INDEPENDENT PARTY OR AN INDEPENDENT ROLE.
ABOUT 100 PERCENT OF THE LEADERSHIP STAFF THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC ARE NON RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
WHATEVER HAPPENS DOESN'T NECESSARILY IMPACT THEM EXCEPT AS THEY COME TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY.
DEVELOPERS, APPLICANTS, THESE ARE FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES AND THEIR ROLE IS TO FIND A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND MAKE A PROFIT.
FROM A DEVELOPER PERSPECTIVE, EVERYTHING IS PERFECT FOR THEM.
THE GOLF COURSE IS THERE, THE TENNIS COURTS ARE THERE, BEAUTIFUL CLUB HOUSES THERE.
PERFECT PLACE FOR A HOTEL TO OFFER ALL THESE AMENITIES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR AND TRY TO GENERATE SOME TRAFFIC.
SO OUR ROLE AS THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR IS TO REPRESENT YOU, THE RESIDENTS.
[05:45:03]
YOU GUYS ARE THE FOLKS THAT SAY, WE'RE VOTING FOR YOU OR WE'RE VOTING AGAINST YOU, AND WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU.STAFF IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR BOSSES, THE DEVELOPERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS, AND WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU STAND, WHAT YOU WANT, AND OUR VOTES SHOULD REFLECT YOUR VIEWS AND YOUR OPINION.
THAT'S WHERE MY VOTE IS GOING TO BE. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, I DID SEE THAT YOU HAD.
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR.
ONE FOR STAFF, ONE FOR THE APPLICANT, AND ONE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU CITY STAFF FOR MAKING THIS PROJECT GO AS FAR AS IT DID.
MAKING SURE ALL THE T'S WERE CROSSED, ALL THE I'S WERE DOTTED.
ONCE THEY WENT THROUGH A PLANNING MEETING, THE PLANNING BOARD IT IS HERE BEFORE US.
A LOT OF TIME, FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY THAT GOES IN THESE PROPOSED PROJECTS, SOMETIMES THEY DIE OR THEY LIVE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. SHANAGE FOR HIS STAFF MAKING THIS.
IT TAKES A LOT OF RESOURCES IN ALL ASPECTS AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB IN MY OPINION.
I WANT TO THANK THE APPLICANTS FOR WANTING COME INTO TAMARAC AGAIN AND WANT TO SEE A PROJECT FLOURISHING.
BUT IT HAS TO BE PROJECTS THAT THE RESIDENTS DESIRE AND WANT.
MY THIRD PART IS TO THE RESIDENCE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
I'M SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS BECAUSE I GOT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF RESPONSES BASED ON MY POLLS THAT I DID ON NEXTDOOR, ON FACEBOOK.
NOT ONLY DID IT AFFECT WOODMAR, BUT IT GOT TO MY DISTRICT.
I HEARD IT FROM DISTRICT 2, 3, AND 4.
WHEN WE VOTE, WE VOTE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR CITY.
WHEN WE VOTE, I ASK THAT WE VOTE AS A CITY AND NOT INDIVIDUALLY.
I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANT TO WISH THOSE THAT ARE CELEBRATING HANUKKAH THIS EVENING.
I HOPE THAT 2021 WOULD BE A LOT BETTER AS THEY'RE PROMISING US ON TV.
WITH THAT, QUITE HONESTLY, MAYOR, WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
>> RESPECTFULLY. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR TO BE ABLE TO SAY MY COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO ASK THIS COMMISSION IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS MATTER BEFORE I SAY FINAL COMMENTS? I WILL REPEAT.
I AM ASKING THIS COMMISSION, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO MAKE FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS AND CALL THE VOTE.
>> THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY SHOULD KNOW THAT WHEN THEY COME TO CITY HALL THEY ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND IN ME.
WHEN YOU ASK ME TO VOTE YOUR WAY, HISTORY PROVES THAT I VOTE WITH THE PEOPLE.
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.
I CAN SAFELY SAY TONIGHT THAT, AT LEAST ON MY END, YOU HAVE NOT WASTED YOUR TIME TO COME HERE.
YOU CAME AND YOU SAT AND YOU LISTENED.
YOU CAME AND YOU CONQUERED, SO TO SPEAK.
ANYTIME YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO ME TOO, FOR MY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW MY EMAIL AND YOU KNOW MY CELL PHONE NUMBER.
I'M THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER, EVEN IN DISTRICT 4, [LAUGHTER] 954-275-3850.
[05:50:04]
I'M INCLINED TO VOTE NO AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD OBLIGE AND DO THE SAME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS.
THEIR COURTESY AND THEIR PATIENCE WITH ME THROUGH IT ALL, SO THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS.
>> THANK YOU. SO I'LL WRAP IT UP WITH MY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AND THEN WE WILL CALL THE ROLL.
I THINK BY NOW EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, I HOPE YOU HAVE HEARD AND THOSE WATCHING, THE CITY DOESN'T BRING APPLICATIONS FORWARD.
WE DO NOT BRING THESE ITEMS FORWARD.
WE DO HAVE TO RESPECT EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS, AS RESIDENTS OR BUSINESS OWNERS TO DO WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO UNDER OUR ORDINANCES TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
I WOULD LIKE IT ON THE RECORD THAT ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 5B 2C, LITTLE I A, MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT TO BOARDS PER OUR LAND USE CODE, IT DOES STATE TWO ULTIMATE ALTERNATE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GET A BOOK, A PIECE OF PAPER, WE WRITE 1, 2, 3, 4, CITY CLERK COLLATES IT.
THAT'S HOW THE AT-LARGE MEMBERS ARE SELECTED.
AS FOR THE RECORD, I DO NOT AND DID NOT TALK TO MY APPOINTEE AND TELL HIM HOW TO VOTE.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD HAS THEIR OWN CAPABILITY OF MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID THAT I BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE SAID.
I WILL ASK YOU TO CALL THE ROLL.
>> MADAM MAYOR JUST TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD FOR EACH OF YOU, THE ANSWER IS YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS BEFORE YOU.
ONE IS THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AND ALSO THE SITE PLAN.
THEY HAVE TO BE TAKEN UP SEPARATELY AND A SHEPHERD VOTE.
>> ACTUALLY, WE DO NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE DO IT IN THE POSITIVE TO VOTE NEGATIVE OR NEGATIVE TO VOTE POSITIVE.
OR IS THAT DEPENDENT ON WHOEVER PUTS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR?
>> DEPENDS UPON THE MAKER OF THE MOTION MADAM MAYOR.
>> OKAY. I AM SEEKING A MOTION.
>> WHICH ONE? [LAUGHTER] WOULD YOU WANT IT IN THE NEGATIVE OR IN THE POSITIVE?
>> NO MEANS NO. YES MEANS YES.
>> IF WE PUT THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> WHAT WE GOING TO DO IS MOTION TO APPROVE AND THEN PEOPLE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEN WE CAN VOTE, THAT'S WHAT AM TRYING TO GET TO.
>> THANK YOU. I PROMISE YOU I'M NOT THAT SLEEPY.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
>> THANK YOU. NOW PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THAT WAS COMMISSIONER GALLON ON THE SECOND?
>> VICE MAYOR, THOUGHT IT WAS. THANK YOU. [NOISE]
>> THE MOTION TO APPROVE IS DENIED UNANIMOUSLY, FIVE TO ZERO.
>> FOR THE RECORD. MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE RECORD, THE DENIAL BASED UPON THE FIVE TO ZERO VOTE IS BASED UPON THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMISSION PUBLICLY AT THE MEETING WHICH WILL BE INCORPORATED WITHIN AN ORDER WHICH DENIES THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONER.
>> YES. WITH THAT, AS A CASE, IS THERE A NEED TO EVEN BOTHER WITH 12B?
>> OKAY. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR TO 13380 WOODMAN HOTEL MAJOR IS THAT, REVISED SITE PLAN.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE REVISED SITE PLAN.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THE MOTION TO APPROVE IS DENIED UNANIMOUSLY, FIVE TO ZERO.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IF YOU WISH TO CLAP NOW YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO.
HAPPY HANUKKAH, MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY KWANZAA.
>> YOU-ALL DON'T BE STRANGERS THOUGH.
COME BACK AND SEE US SOMETIME.
>> ONE THIRTY EIGHT, OUR MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
GOODNIGHT, EVERYBODY. GET HOME SAFELY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.